A recent study explores how a simple dietary addition may influence cardiovascular function in individuals with prediabetes.
For the 98 million Americans living with prediabetes, everyday food choices can quietly shape long-term heart health. New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association points to an unexpected option: pairing avocado with mango.
In the study, adults who added one avocado and one cup of mango to their daily diet for eight weeks showed measurable improvements in how their blood vessels functioned, along with reductions in diastolic blood pressure, a key marker linked to cardiovascular risk.
Researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology conducted the study by assigning adults with prediabetes to follow an Avocado-Mango diet. Participants added one medium Hass avocado and one cup of fresh mango to their meals and snacks each day for eight weeks.
A control group followed a calorie-matched diet in which avocado and mango were replaced with carbohydrate-based foods of similar caloric value. Compared with the control group, those following the AM diet showed improvements in blood vessel function and diastolic blood pressure, which are linked to long-term cardiovascular health.
Nutritional Changes and Additional Findings
Participants who followed the AM diet also increased their intake of fiber, vitamin C, and monounsaturated fats, all of which are associated with cardiovascular health. These improvements occurred without an increase in total calorie intake or body weight. Some markers of kidney function, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), also improved.
No significant changes were observed in cholesterol levels, blood sugar, or inflammation. Still, the results suggest that adding nutrient-dense fruits to the diet may offer benefits, particularly for people at risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
