Effects of the Ingestion of Ripe Mangoes on the Squamous Gastric Region in the Horse.
Authors: Silva Carolina J F L, Trindade Keity L G, Cruz Raíssa K S, Manso Helena E C C C, Coelho Clarisse S, Filho José D Ribeiro, Nogueira Carlos E W, Aragona Francesca, Fazio Francesco, Manso Filho Helio Cordeiro
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Ripe Mangoes and Equine Gastric Health In tropical regions where horses graze alongside fruit-bearing trees, ripe mangoes present both nutritional opportunity and potential digestive risk, yet their effects on equine gastric health remain poorly characterised. Researchers conducted a 3-month prospective gastroscopic study on five Arabian horses with free access to fallen ripe mangoes during the harvest season, supplemented by postprandial glucose testing and serial biochemical analysis to assess digestive and metabolic responses. Four of the five horses developed erosions and ulcers in the squamous gastric mucosa within 15–30 days of unrestricted mango consumption, coinciding with marked hyperglycaemia (plasma glucose exceeding 200 mg/dL for up to 180 minutes following consumption of approximately 5.4 kg of fruit) and reduced plasma protein concentrations during the harvest period; importantly, all lesions resolved spontaneously within 15 days of returning to conventional forage-based diets without treatment. These findings suggest that whilst ripe mangoes' high soluble carbohydrate and moisture content can trigger significant glycaemic disturbance and secondary squamous ulceration in horses, the condition is self-limiting and reversible, making grazing management—rather than pharmaceutical intervention—the practical priority for practitioners managing horses in regions where mango trees are present.
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Practical Takeaways
- •In tropical regions where mangoes are available, restrict or eliminate free access to fallen ripe mangoes to prevent gastric ulceration in pastured horses
- •Monitor horses with signs of gastric distress (behavioral changes, reduced appetite) during mango season using gastroscopy if clinical signs persist
- •Natural recovery occurs within 2-3 weeks once mango intake ceases and regular hay/pasture diet is resumed; medical intervention may not be necessary if dietary management is corrected promptly
Key Findings
- •Four of five horses (80%) developed erosions and ulcers in the squamous gastric region 15-30 days after unrestricted mango ingestion access
- •Postprandial glucose concentrations exceeded 200 mg/dL for 30-180 minutes following ingestion of 5.37 kg of mangoes
- •Plasma protein levels were significantly reduced during the mango harvest period compared to baseline
- •All affected horses recovered naturally within 15 days after mango access ended and regular forage feeding resumed