African mango is becoming increasingly popular in the weight loss industry for weight control. A small number of clinical trial studies found that the African mango supplement boosts weight loss; however, additional research is required to determine conclusively the efficiency of the African mango in the treatment of obesity.
The supplement may as well help to control cravings for food and inhibit over-eating. Irvingia gabonensis is the scientific name of a tree of African origin known commonly as African mango.
The tree manufactures fruit regularly known as African mangos which are an edible fruit eaten within the region. African mango supplements are usually produced from the seeds of the African mango fruit.
A few small-scale studies have found that African mango may be efficient for weight loss in overweight individuals. The popularity of the supplement began after it was featured by Dr. Mehmet Oz on The Doctor Oz Show.
African mango supplements are frequently marketed for cleanses and blended with other high-fiber sources like oat bran and flax.
A lot of user reviews on these cleanse products are rather positive, but there is minimal clinical evidence that support the use of African mango for weight loss.
Additionally, it was found that the bioactive ingredients in the African mango seed extracts can as well be found by eating other related high-fiber supplements or foods.
African Mango for Weight Loss and Accessible Scientific Studies
Two small clinical studies show that African mango seed supplements assist individuals who are overweight to lose weight.
Nevertheless, the results of these studies are considered inadequate to categorically establish the efficacy of African mango extract for weight control.
The few accessible studies that were carried out to demonstrate the use of African mango for weight loss made use of just a few research population and made use of poorly structured research methodology. There is also a possible room for bias because the researches were sponsored by the producers of the supplement.
The seeds of the African mango fruit are made up of high contents of fiber and healthy fats involving medium and long chain fatty acids.
This supplement has as well been shown to help in the regulation of the levels of blood sugar and boost feelings of satiation.
This indicates its potential for reducing excess fat and avoiding weight gain. However, additional research is required to establish the usefulness of the supplement in weight loss.
How African Mango Helps in Weight Loss
Commonly, supplements help people to lose weight either by boosting the metabolic activity of the body and helping the body to use more energy or by reducing appetite. This is frequently attained by making the individual feel satiated as a result of its high content of fiber.
Another strategy followed by weight loss supplement to lose help people lose weight is by controlling the levels of the blood sugar occasioned by carb-based diets. When the levels of blood sugar spikes the body releases insulin to assist in sugar transportation into the cells.
Insulin as well stimulates the process of lipogenesis. This is the process whereby lipids or fatty acid are stored in the adipose tissue.
African Mango helps to minimize the levels of blood sugar and reduce rate to which insulin is secreted. It is, thus, probably able to minimize lipogenesis and inhibit the storage of additional fat in the body.
This is the mechanism of operation followed by a lot of low-carb or ketogenic diets. Supplements such as African Mango extract pills are alleged to assist in the regulation of levels of insulin by inhibiting the levels of blood sugar from rising too high.
Hypothetically, this could boost loss of weight or inhibit weight gain.
Nevertheless, it is significant to state that supplementary research is required to establish if the African Mango extract is efficient for weight loss. Irrespective of that, the best results will be attained if the supplement is used together with a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Clinical Studies on African Mango
In a clinical study, individuals who are overweight were treated with 1.05 g of raw African mango seed extract for 28 days. The research participants both in the panacea and treatment group were placed on a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet of 1,800 kCal daily.
At the end of the study, the participants in the treatment group lost roughly 8.8 pounds or 4 kilogram of weight. The participants who belonged to the panacea group did not lose any significant weight.
A ten weeks study which lasted for ten weeks was carried out with a standardized extract of African mango known as IGOB131. The participants were given 150 mg doses of the supplement two times every day but not placed on any restriction of diet.
Individuals given I. gabonensis supplement roughly ate 400 kCal less every day than the members of the control group. At end of the seventy days, the members of the treatment group lost roughly 28.22 lbs. The panacea group members lost roughly less than 2 lbs.
However, data shows that these researches were sponsored by the supplement manufacturers and carried out by the same research group.
A 2013 review of the accessible research on the use of African mango for weight loss which was published on the Journal of Dietary Supplements showed that the available clinical studies are not rigorous enough establish conclusively that African mango can be used as a remedy for weight loss.
Supplementary studies are recommended before the therapeutic effects of I. gabonensis can be established.
African Mango and Cholesterol
In the same studies discussed above, it was discovered that African Mango minimized the levels of cholesterol in participants who are overweight.
In the four week study that involved overweight individuals with slightly elevated cholesterol levels, individuals given 1.05 gram of African mango powder were found to have lower levels of cholesterol and triglyceride.
In the cause of the study, total cholesterol was minimized by 39 percent, LDL-C was minimized by 46 percent and triglycerides were minimized by 45 percent. The level of HDL-C also known as good cholesterol was increased by 47 percent.
In the study that made use of IGOB131 supplement, the levels of LDL cholesterol in the treatment group were less by 27 percent while the levels of total cholesterol was minimized by twenty seven percent.
Anti-Diabetic Effects of African Mango
In a single study that is focused on the effects of African mango supplements on people with type II diabetes, 150 mg doses of I. Gabonensis given to the participants three times a day before meals resulted to low levels of blood glucose.
At the end of seventy days, the levels of blood glucose in the treatment group lowered to roughly 22.5 percent. The members of the control group witnessed roughly a 5.3 percent reduction in the levels of blood sugar.
Pros of African Mango Extract
- It is used as weight loss supplement
- It helps in the regulation of blood sugar
- It reduces the levels of bad cholesterol and increases the levels of good cholesterol
- It helps to boost metabolism
- It can minimize the occurrence of lipogenesis
- It helps in appetite regulation by increasing satiation and creating sense of fullness
Cons of African Mango Extract
- Irvingia gabonensisis associated with a few mild side effects like headache, gas, vomiting and sleeplessness. However, the accessible studies show that both the participants in the treatment group and the control group witnessed similar side effects.
- gabonensis may interact with prescription and over-the-counter drugs
- Pregnant or nursing women may not use African mango supplements because there is not yet sufficient evidence to show it is safe for them.
- Those scheduled for surgical operation should stop the use of gabonensisat least two weeks before their surgery.
- It is more costly than related supplements and does not contain additional bioactive constituents than the related sources.