Updated 4/8/24. I've been getting a lot of questions about African Mango, also called Irvingia gabonensis and whether this fruit can help people lose weight. African mango is similar to the mango's you've probably eaten at some point. Undoubtedly, you've seen many websites touting this fruit for obesity and weight loss. Few websites offer proof, though. In this review, let's look at the clinical studies on African mango. African Mango is sometimes called Bush Mango or Wild Mango. All of these refer to its scientific name, Irvingia gabonensis. The extract of African mango that has been used in weight loss research is called IGOB131. This name is sometimes shortened to simply OB131.
African Mango Weight Loss Research
Does African Mango help people lose weight? There is indeed research on Irvingia gabonensis. More precisely, there is research on an extract from the seeds of the African mango tree. The extract from the seeds is dubbed IGOB131. I am telling you this because if you try Irvingia gabonensis weight loss supplements, this is the ingredient that the research was conducted on.
Other African mango extracts may not have the same effect.
Study
In one 4-week study, 40 overweight people were given either 3.15 grams (3500 mg) of Irvingia gabonensis or a comparable amount of oat bran 30 minutes before meals, in conjunction with a low-fat diet. People ate about 1800 calories a day.
Results indicated that those receiving Irvingia gabonensis lost about 5.6% of body weight. Those taking the placebo lost about 1% of body weight. Body fat did not change significantly in either group.
Problem. Body fat was measured using bioelectric impedance analysis. This method, while quick and easy to administer, is less accurate than other means like hydrostatic weighing, Bod Pod etc.
Systolic blood pressure (the top number) was reduced by about 4 points. This drop in systolic blood pressure could be the result of weight loss as opposed to a direct effect of Irvingia gabonensis itself.
Study
In a 10-week study, 102 healthy overweight men and women were followed for 10 weeks. People were given either a placebo or 350 mg of Irvingia gabonensis. The supplement was supplied by Gateway Health Alliances Inc (Fairfield CA), a company that owns a US patent on IGOB131
Results showed that those receiving the Irvingia gabonensis extract had lower body weight, body fat, and waist circumference than those taking the placebo. Specifically, those taking IGOB131 extract lost 28 pounds vs. about 1 pound for those getting the placebo. Body fat was determined using bioelectric impedance analysis. This is a HUGE difference and honestly, I'm skeptical of it.
LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), total cholesterol, blood glucose, and C reactive protein were also lower in those who received the Irvingia gabonensis extract.
The weight loss observed in the African Mango group could account for the the decreases in cholesterol, blood glucose and C reactive protein. These things do change when people lose weight. The soluble fiber in the extract may also had an effect on cholesterol levels.
Study
Another study noted that mouse cells exposed to IGOB131 had increased fat cell production of adiponectin. Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory properties and that high levels of adiponectin appear to be associated with a lower risk of heart disease. This study also noted that IGOB131 inhibited fat cell development as well.
Study
In a review of previous research, the authors noted that studies published on African mango all had problems with how they were conducted. Because of this, the authors state that Irvingia gabonensis “cannot be recommended as a weight loss aid. Future research in this area should be more rigorous and better reported.”
Study
At least one group of researchers has reported that a combination of African mango and another supplement, Cissus quadrangularis, produces greater weight loss than African mango alone. This study involved 72 overweight men and women who took either the supplement combination or a placebo for 10 weeks. Those taking the blend of ingredients used 250 mg of both supplements.
African Mango And Leptin
The 10-week study published in 2009 also noted that the IGOB131 extract reduced levels of leptin. Leptin is a hormone made inside fat cells that play a role in appetite. Basically, this is what happens:
- When leptin levels rise, we stop eating
- When leptin levels fall, we get hungry
That's the simple answer. The amount of leptin we have is dependent on how much body fat we have. The more body fat, the higher the leptin levels. One problem, however, is that many overweight people (who make a lot of leptin) are insensitive to the leptin and it doesn't work to stop them from eating. In other words, they are leptin-resistant.
Irvingia gabonensis lowered leptin levels; some take this to mean it helps weight loss. But remember that as leptin levels decrease, we get hungry. I'm saying this because the decrease in leptin observed in the 10-week 2009 study appears to be a result of IGOB131 reducing fat cell growth and differentiation. In other words, as fat cell growth slows, leptin levels might also fall.
If the African mango extract does reduce leptin levels, would a continued drop in leptin cause a rebound hunger in people, causing them to eat more? I don't know? The longest study so far has only lasted 10 weeks. Leptin is not the only player in the game when it comes to obesity. If Irvingia gabonensis has any real effect on combating weight loss, its effects on leptin are probably not the answer.
Is African Mango Safe?
The company that holds the US patent on the African Mango extract IGOB131 has published a safety study in lab rats showing that the ingredient is up to 2500 mg/kg for up to 90 days of use. The ingredient caused no genetic mutations. That is good.
How much is that in people? To convert the lab rat dose to the people dosage, divide the rat dose by 6.2. If we do this, we get 2500 /6.2 = 403 mg per kilogram of body weight.
Remember there are 2.2 kg in a pound, so divide your body weight (in pounds) by 2.2 and multiply that by 403 to find the maximum safe amount in you. Use less than this to be even more conservative.
African Mango Side Effects
For healthy people, African mango food and supplements are probably safe. Here are some things to consider if you are not “healthy.” This list is not complete:
- Begin by taking less than recommended for at least the first week.
- Speak to your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Don't take if you are allergic to mangos.
- Common side effects reported include GI problems, headache, dry mouth, and sleep problems.
- Stop taking African mango supplements at least 2 weeks before having surgery.
- In theory, this supplement may lower blood sugar levels
- Speak to your doctor if you have any health problems.
At least one report exists of kidney failure after taking African mango supplements. This individual had high blood pressure and was taking medications. The person took 1000 mg of African mango daily for a couple of months.
Things To Think About
1. It is important to remember that all of the positive research on African mango (Irvingia gabonensis) has used a specific extract called IGOB131. Consumers should look for the amount of IGOB131 on supplement labels. Much of the research is sponsored by a company that owns the patent on IGOB131.
2. Obtaining good results is probably better if the African mango is combined with a low-fat / low-calorie diet.
3. Don't be swayed by the amount of Irvingia gabonensis a supplement contains. Look instead for how much of the IGOB131 extract the product has. This is what the research uses.
4. Exercise likely helps any effect the supplement has.
5. Weight loss could account for the observed changes in total cholesterol, LDL, and CRP.
Does African Mango Work?
The preliminary research is intriguing, although most studies are small and about 3 months. If Irvingia gabonensis extracts are going to work, it will probably take at least four weeks before people notice a decrease in weight.
Here's African Mango on Amazon
I use Fruitrientx brand, naturally grown African Mango, containing 350mg (IGBO 131) in a 60 pill vegetable capsule container. I bought this from Sprouts Farmers Market priced at $16.00 ea. (see the market locator to find a Sprouts Farmers Market near you…
PS – this brand is also available online too…
How many calories are you supposed to intake while on the diet? I’m on the ‘Ultimate African Mango’ right now and I’ve lost 6 lbs in the first week. I gained a pound from overeating one day, so i was just wondering.
Hi Victoria, I think the 6 pounds you lost during the first week were mostly water weight and the 1 pound you regained after overeating was also water weight. I say this becaause when you cut your calories or carbs you force your body to tap into its reserve supply of carbohydrates (its called glycogen). when we start to use those carbs, we free up a lot of water – a LOT of water! Its estimated that every gram of glycogen has about 2.5 grams of water associated with it. So, if you lose 1 pound of carbs, you also lose about 2.5 pounds of water = about 3 pounds.
When you do this our bodies compensate by raising the level of an enzyme called glycogen synthase whose job is to make more glycogen when you eat. So when you do eat – or over eat – that enzyme starts to work to restore what you lost.
All that said, you did likely lose a little fat during the first week of weight loss. that likely did not come back too much. Most people eat between 2000 -2500 calories per day but this is general. While counting calories can help, instead try to eat a little less during the day. Dont go drastic, just a little bit less. in the end that will be best I think. Here is something I wrote that has several weight loss tips http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
Ok. I will try that. Thanx joe!
Hi joe,
I was wondering, have you ever heard of or tried the perfect African mango product? Its said to contain 150mg of igob131 and it is the only ingredient outside of the vegetable capsule.
Lily, sorry I have not heard of that product. maybe you can ask them for some documentation that it really has 150 mg of the extract. I’m not sure if they would give you that but I don’t see why not.
Hi Joe,
I’m a pharmacy student that is doing some research on African Mango and Cissus quadrangularis. I found a study in “Lipids in Health and Disease” March 31, 2008 Vol. 7 (I’ll try to post a link to it). Looks like the combination of the two has shown significant results in weight loss, like Lisa mentioned above.
My question is: there are so many African Mango supplements on the market, how do I know which has the IGOB131 formulation? I found a brand called the Perfect African Mango capsules made by Perfect Supplements. Have you had any experience with this brand or any other brand that has IGOB131?
Link to the study (HOPE IT WORKS!):
Hi Lindsey, your link didn’t work unfortunately and took me to the Drake website which asked for a password and usermame. Can you find the study on medline? I tried to locate it but wasn’t able to. I’d love to see if if you can find it.
To your question about which African Mango supplements have IGOB131 that’s a great question and I dont have the answer to it. I wish there was one that stood out from the rest but I dont know. Some people in the past have mentioned the brand from Life Extension but others have told me it didn’t work for them. At this time I personally dont trust even those brands that list IGB131 on the labels. I think because of the hype around African mango that there is probably a bunch of sub par products out there which probably have very little African mango and even less of the IGOB131 extract. I did a quick search at Consumerlab for you but they didn’t have anything on this.
This might make a good project for you since you are in school -hint hint, wink wink 😉 If you do find any, please do let me know and if you are able to find that study you mentioned Id love to see that as well 🙂
Hi Joe.
I’ve just found your site, while researching Viviscal. Since I was here, I also went looking for Dr. Oz’s latest weight-loss hype: African Mango Extract. It was in the December 2011 issue of First for Women magazine, and as a result, has been creating an order backlog at some of the health food stores I was in with a girlfriend before Christmas.
My friend was actually sourcing Sea Buckthorn – recommended by guess who…? 😉 Well, I’ve read everything here about the mango extract, AND the sea buckthorn, and I have to say that I’m now feeling definitely more than ambivalent about Dr. Oz’s health advice, and I’m thinking I’ll just stop paying attention to him. Thanks, and keep up the good work. Regards, Noralee
Noralee, I’m happy you found my website! I did not know Dr Oz was still talking about African Mango and Sea Buckthorn so thanks also for letting me know about that too!
Any research on benefits of the fruit pulp and weight loss? How about other species of Mango. We have 2 mango trees and freeze the fruit for year round use. Seeds get tossed. What problems would there be eating the seeds and is the weight control part found at all in the pulp of fruit? Here in Costa Rica tons of mangos go unharvested each year as they grow wild and trees become too tall to harvest. Maybe there is a money crop on the ground?
JGI, thats an interesting question. Not sure if African Mango pulp would be any better than pulp from other fruits. pulp has fiber so in theory it might.
In india, people pickle whole green mangoes and when they are ready, they get eaten – flesh, seeds, skin and all.
Lisa,
Have you seen results at all thus far?
The place that was recommended to me by my doctor for Irvingia was here: http://www.mdprescriptives.com/?p=11&l=2&id=3
so I am sure that it’s the correct kind with the IGOB131.
IMPORTANT!!
Okay, everyone is missing important points here. I have had an endocrinologist PRESCRIBE me irvingia for my insulin resistance / hormone disorders (my leptin / adiponectin levels are messed up, it’s also for weight loss). However, it is supposed to be combined with Cissus quadrangularis — the double blind study did both together, as I think one other person posted. Also, both are supposed to be taken 30 minutes before eating or THEY DON’T DO AS MUCH. The drugs work in your gut and regulate how food is released into your bloodstream or something like that, from what I remember my doctor explaining.
Here is what my doctor prescribed me (realize that it might vary per person, and you might be different or react differently, so don’t blame me if you don’t get results):
– Irvingia gabonesis 150mg, 2 capsules (totaling 300mg) 30 minutes once before lunch & once before dinner
– Cissus quadrangularis 1000mg 30 minutes once before lunch & once before dinner (the brand recommended to me was primaFORCE at Swansonvitamins.com, but I don’t really think it matters as long as it’s 1000mg)
It’s a pain to remember, but I’m hoping it works. I used to have to give myself injections until I had a violent allergic reaction, so this is way better. Hope that helps!
Hi Lisa, would you happen to know the name of the study that your doctor was referring to. I will try to look and check it out. Thanks for the heads up. let me know how it works for you.
Is it necessary to take African Mango 30min before eating? If you didn’t sometimes and take it right before will that make it a lost cause?
CoCo, good question Ive never seen anything that you have to take African Mango with food, before eating or after eating. Does anybody else have info on this?
Thank You.
I think it has to do with the “Leptin Resistance”. I never heard of that until I discovered Irvingia, and of course other underlying mechanisms that irvingia targets.
yes, life extention.
It seems to work marvellously for some people and not at all for others. Most people can lose significant weight by seriously restricting their diet and with exersize, others are not so lucky.
Gary well I’m glad it worked for you. Several others said it didn’t work for them which is odd. Perhaps its not enough to just take the supplement but rather to combine it with exercise and watching calories
I lost 10lbs in 30 days!
I have been overweight for sometime now. Everything I did to lose weight wouldn’t work. I eat normally, not in excess, and exercise 2-3 days a week. At one point I went to a nutritionist and she had me kept a blog of my diet. After 2 weeks of recording my diet and not losing any weight the nutritionist thought I was lying about what I ate.
I’ve been taking 150mg of Irvingia (2x a day) for 1 month now and have lost 10 lbs. Its the only thing that has worked for me.
Gary that’s really interesting. What brand did you use – life extension?
Karen
Ive never seen anything that African Mango harms the heart.
That said, do read the comments, especially those by Ian. he put himself on this supplement for several weeks and it did not work.
Have you tried eating from smaller plates and bowels? research shows that works. And last week there was finally “proof” that drinking a glass of water before meals helps weight loss. You might also try weighing yourself every day. some research finds this helps. One good book that I enjoyed was “Mindless Eating”. There is wisdom about why we eat in that book.
Really sorry to hear about your health issues after taking zi xiu tang (I’m guessing that that’s the supplement you mentioned). A lot of other people have reported health problems also. I hope you are doing ok now.
“eating from smaller plates and bowels”. well, that’s one way to kill your appetite-thanks for the laugh!!
Lisa, there is scientific research showing that when you eat from smaller plates and bowls that you lose more weight. Drinking from taller glasses also has a similar effect. The book called Mindless Eating details these strange experiments. Take a look at it.
I once met a women who lost 30 pounds this way.
I am struggling with weightloss. I almost killed myself last December with that Chinese supplement you had on here. Threw my BP and heart rate seriously out of weight. I’d like to try this mango supplement. Has there been any indication that it messes with the heart at all?
Janet, Ive never seen anything about mango increasing blood pressure. Did mango increase your blood pressure?
Will taking the mango increase blood pressure?
Wayne, I hear ya and I also would love to see new eyes take a look at this stuff. I know Univ research takes time – proposals, IRB, getting test subjects ect – not including the peer review process.
I’m hoping that someone out there takes an interest in African Mango and attempts to shed more light on it. If you see anything let me know. I will be doing the same!
Laura I agree eating heatlhy (and eating less calories esp) are a big factor. Since its a fruit, it has healthy aspects to it.
I also agree in the fact that concentrating one part of the food in a supplement does not always give the same benefits as the food.
Nothing better illustrates this than the studies in the 1990s showing that beta carotene increases lung cancer in smokers – eating carrots do not.
Yes, Ian ROCKS for going to all that trouble for everybody! I’ve already mentioned his efforts to others in the review I wrote on the weight loss supplement Apidexin
http://supplementclarity.com/apidexin-review-weight-loss/