African mango (Irvingia gabonensis) is a popular West African fruit in Nigeria and Cameroon. The fruits produce a seed that is rich in protein and oil. The seed is consumed whole or as a powder or paste for making dika bread, Gabon chocolate, or ogbono soup. Although the weight loss benefits were at first thought to be due to the fiber in the fruit, research studies now show that storage proteins, called glutelins, in the seeds are the active components.
Results of studies on guinea pigs and on humans were the basis for U.S. Patent No. 7,537,790, titled, "Method and composition for reducing body weight and improving control of body lipids," which was awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 26, 2009. The inventor is Julius Oben of Yaounde, Cameroon. The patent assignee (owner) is Gateway Health Alliances, Inc., of Fairfield, California. Gateway also owns the trademarked name of a proprietary African mango extract called IGOB131.
Initial Study
The Oben research group in Cameroon published the results of their initial weight loss study in 2005 (Ngondi et al. 2005). Twenty-eight subjects took the seed extract (IG, not yet trademarked), 3 capsules of 350 milligrams each, three times daily, one-half hour before meals. The total intake was 3.15 grams per day (1.05 grams x3). Twelve control subjects took an equivalent amount of placebo derived from oat bran. All subjects were instructed to eat a low fat diet and limit their intake to 1800 Calories per day. The study ran for one month.
The main results showed an average weight loss in the IG-treatment group of 5.6 percent after one month. In comparison, the control group lost an average of 2.23 percent during the same time period. All results were statistically significant.
The IG-treatment group, in comparison with the control group, also had significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL-cholesterol.
Two curious notes about this study stand out. One is that there was no significant change in body fat composition between the two groups. The other was that the IG-treatment group started out with a much higher average weight than did the control group (231 lbs vs. 175 lbs).
Expanded Study
A more recent study by the Oben research group appeared in 2009 (Ngondi et al. 2009). In this study, 50 volunteers took the new proprietary extract, IGOB131, containing 150 mg of Irvingia extract, twice daily. Fifty-two control subjects took identical-looking capsules containing maize-derived maltodextrin. Placebo and IGOB131 were administered 30-60 minutes before lunch and dinner. There were no suggestions for dietary restriction as in the initial study. The study ran for 10 weeks.
The main results by the end of 10 weeks were an average of 28 lbs lost in the IGOB131-treatment group vs. 1.5 lbs in the control group. This difference was statistically significant. Furthermore, the IGOB131-treatment group also lost significantly more body fat (6.3 percent avg.) than did the control group (1.9 percent avg.).
Several metabolic measurements also improved significantly in the IGOB131-treatment group vs. the control group. These included blood tests for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, and adiponectin and leptin levels.
This study was more extensive than the initial study, with more volunteers and over a longer period. Even without controlling for diet or exercise, the IGOB131-treatment group improved significantly over the control group in weight loss and in several other measurements of overall health.
It was nice to see that the study design was randomized so that starting weights were evened out between the IGOB131-treatment group and the control group. The only curiosity that stands out about this study is the placebo effect. The control group somehow managed to lose an average of 1.9 percent body fat without significant weight loss (i.e, 1.5 lbs.).
Conclusion
Even though both of these studies are still rather small, they point in the right direction for the efficacy of African mango extract for weight loss and several other health indicators. The key for expecting results from any African mango supplement is to match the dosage and formula that was used in expanded study - i.e., 150 mg of IGOB31 twice daily.
References
Ngondi JL, Oben JE, and Minka SR. 2005. The effect of Irvingia gabonensis seeds on body weight and blood lipids of obese subjects in Cameroon. Lipids in Health and Disease Vol. 4, pp. 12-15.
Ngondi, JL, Etoundi BC, Nyangono CB, Mbofung CMF, and Oben JE. 2009. 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 Lipids in Health and Disease Vol. 8, pp. 7-13.
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