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Afm2.5

African Mango Research

Mostly mechanism / observationalModerate safety

4 peer-reviewed studies

What the evidence says

Mostly mechanism / observational

Most African Mango studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.

Most evidence is from medium-quality randomised trials published 2005–2013 with a typical study size of 72 participants.

Based on 4 studies · 3 RCTs · 214 total participants

Confidence

Moderate

By outcome

Weight managementSmall single-group trials report modest weight/waist reduction, but a systematic review judged the effect unproven and unreplicated · 4-10 weeks (in the few trials that exist)
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study

Older research base

Newest study from 2013

20052013

1Systematic Review2013

Due to the paucity and poor reporting quality of the RCTs, the effect of I. gabonensis on body weight is unproven and it cannot be recommended as a weight loss aid.

Onakpoya I, Davies L, Posadzki P, Ernst E · J Diet Suppl (2013)

Only three RCTs existed and all had flaws in methodological reporting
All reported statistically significant weight and waist reductions favoring the extract, plus lipid improvements
Adverse events included headache and sleep difficulty

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2RCTn=102 · medium study2009

150 mg twice daily significantly improved body weight, body fat, and metabolic-syndrome parameters versus placebo — but this single-group, industry-linked trial has not been independently replicated.

Ngondi JL, Etoundi BC, Nyangono CB, Mbofung CM, Oben JE · Lipids Health Dis (2009)

102 overweight/obese volunteers randomized to 150 mg IGOB131 twice daily or placebo
Reported significant improvements in body weight, body fat, waist circumference, cholesterol, glucose, CRP, adiponectin and leptin
Conducted by the same Cameroon group that produced most positive Irvingia data; effect sizes are large and unreplicated

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3RCTn=40 · small study2005

A small one-month trial reported a 5.3% weight loss with Irvingia versus 1.3% on placebo, alongside improved lipids.

Ngondi JL, Oben JE, Minka SR · Lipids Health Dis (2005)

Small double-blind study: 28 received Irvingia seed (1.05 g three times daily), 12 placebo, for one month
Reported ~5.3% body-weight reduction versus ~1.3% in placebo
Reported decreases in total/LDL cholesterol and triglycerides

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4RCTn=72 · small study2008

A Cissus/Irvingia combination outperformed placebo on weight and lipid measures, but Irvingia's independent contribution is confounded by the combination design.

Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, Agbor GA, Sobgui CS · Lipids Health Dis (2008)

72 overweight/obese participants randomized to placebo, Cissus-only, or Cissus + Irvingia
Both active groups beat placebo on all six measures; the combination was largest
Combination design makes it impossible to isolate Irvingia's effect

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View in Research Library

African Mango Research

Mostly mechanism / observational

The efficacy of Irvingia gabonensis supplementation in the management of overweight and obesity: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

IGOB131, a novel seed extract of the West African plant Irvingia gabonensis, significantly reduces body weight and improves metabolic parameters in overweight humans in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled investigation.

The effect of Irvingia gabonensis seeds on body weight and blood lipids of obese subjects in Cameroon.

The use of a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.