(P07-28-26) Effects of Mango Consumption on Sexual Health Questionnaire Scores in Adults With Overweight and Obesity

Objectives: Obesity is associated with alterations in sexual hormone homeostasis, endothelial dysfunction, and impaired sexual function in both men and women. Polyphenol-rich fruits, may improve vascular and metabolic parameters that influence sexual health. Mango is rich in fiber and polyphenols; however, no human studies have evaluated its effects on sexual function outcomes. This study evaluated the effects of daily fresh mango consumption, compared with an isocaloric low-fat cookie (LFC) snack, on sexual function in sexually active adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods: This 4-week crossover clinical trial enrolled 31 participants (15 men, 16 women), aged 18-50 years, with a BMI ranging between 25-40kg/m2. Participants consumed 166g of fresh mango (100 kcal) or isocaloric amount of LFC snack for 4 weeks, separated by a 4-week washout period. Men completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Male Sexual Function Index (MSFI), and women completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

Results: Total MSFI and FSFI scores were not significantly different between interventions. There was an interaction trend in the desire domain scores (Q1-2) with a decreased score post cookie intervention and an increased score observed in the post mango intervention (P=0.097). For the desire domain scores Q1-2, there was a sex effect of males having a higher overall desire score than females (P=0.008). Questionnaire questions Q3-Q6 focused on arousal, with women showing a trend of an increased arousal score post mango intervention (P=0.052). There was a sex effect of women having higher arousal than men (P=0.018). IIEF scores showed no significant difference between interventions, and mean scores remained above established clinical cut-off values, indicating that participants were sexually functional at baseline and throughout the study.

Conclusions: Four weeks of daily mango consumption did not significantly alter sexual health questionnaire outcomes compared with LFC in adults with overweight or obesity. However, favorable trends were observed in the desire and arousal domain scores following the mango intervention suggest potential benefits that warrant further investigation in populations with clinically defined sexual dysfunction, where improvements may be more detectable.

Funding Sources: This work was supported by the National Mango Board.