Does African Mango Work?

Does African Mango Really Work For Weight Loss? A Scientific Look

With all the media hype and incredible weight loss stories surrounding African mango in both its natural and extract forms, little attention has been paid to the actual science behind African mango weight loss. As much as people love anecdotal evidence, not all of us are blinded by hype. We make our consumer decisions based on fact and still want to see cold, hard scientific data before investing valuable time and hard-earned money into a weight loss product.

In an attempt to clarify some of the hype surrounding African mango weight loss and what some have termed the ‘African mango diet’, we decided to take a look at the incredible claims regarding this fascinating fruit and compare those claims to available clinical studies. While there have been limited controlled, double blind studies performed on African mango weight loss, for now, we can rely on the few clinical studies available for data and turn to our understanding of human physiology to determine whether these weight loss claims are true, or even plausible.

African Mango Reviews – The Claims

In taking the scientific approach, we first want to understand the claims being made about African mango and weight loss. In scientific terms, we want to define our hypothesis. Below, weíll examine some of the testimonials, reviews and claims about African mango. More specifically, weíll scrutinize the claims from the manufacturer behind the most popular African mango extract product out there – Natural African Mango.

The manufacturers of Natural African Mango claim that African Mango will help you:

• Lose weight
• Increase fat oxidation
• Increase metabolism
• Fight fatigue
• Increase energy

Another claim that needs to be examined is the claim made on by the world-renown Dr. Oz on a popular medical show on the ABC television network.

“African Mango had been proven to be effective when used as a supplement during weight loss programs. The weight loss properties of Irvingia gabonensis have been attributed to its ability to increase the amount of Leptin in the bloodstream of those who use it as a supplement.”

 

African Mango Weight Loss – The Clinical Data

In researching the literature, we found it extremely difficult to find controlled, double blind studies performed on African mango. This is unsurprising. Proper clinical studies cost a lot of money and resources to perform, and until recent discoveries, there was little reason for companies to pour money into studying the weight loss effects of a little known African fruit. Given the recent explosion in popularity of African mango and African mango extract, we expect to see more data and the results of long term clinical studies in the near future.

What we did find was a double blind study performed on Irvingia Gabonensis (the scientific name of African mango) and its effects on health. This study was performed on of natives Cameroon, where the African mango plant originates.

What this clinical study revealed was quite astonishing. In taking 300mg of an African mango extract 3 times daily, test subjects lost a statistically significant 2.7-5.6% body fat in 1 month compared to the control group. Post-study measurements and testing also revealed that those who received the African mango extract enjoyed a reduction in blood pressure and bad cholesterol (LDL), while levels of beneficial cholesterol (HDL) actually increased.

What accounts for these tremendous results? Do these results line up with the claims of the manufacturer? What about the claims made by Dr. Oz’s medical show on ABC?

So Does African Mango Work? – Drawing Conclusions

While we can only draw limited conclusions from a single clinical study performed over a 1 month period, the results indicate that there is significant truth to the claims that, when taken regularly, African mango can help individuals lose weight as well as increase metabolic rate and fat oxidation.

While there was no data from the study on the claims of increased energy levels and lower fatigue, it seems reasonable to draw the inference that lowered body fat and LDL cholesterol levels would give the test subjects increased levels of energy and less fatigue.

What about the claims that the Leptin contained in African Mango is responsible for the remarkable weight loss results experienced by the patients in the study, due to its effects on metabolism and appetite?

Once again, there is little available in the lone clinical study on African mango that would confirm this one way or another, but luckily there is plenty of existing scientific data on Leptin. It is well accepted in the scientific literature that Leptin plays an important role in regulating energy intake, energy expenditure, as well as a crucial role in regulating appetite and our metabolism. There are even studies showing that obese individuals have higher resistance to Leptin in a similar way that diabetics are resistant to insulin ñ which may explain why a supplement that boosts Leptin levels like African mango offers significant weight loss benefits.

Despite the evidence we have indicating that this new “superfruit” offers some incredibly positive effects on weight loss, there’s still a lot more we’d like to know. For example, it would be interesting if we could see in future studies whether African mango stimulates weight loss primarily through appetite suppression, or whether it accomplishes this by increasing the body’s metabolic rate. Perhaps it’s a combination of the two, or maybe itís some third factor no one has considered. Unfortunately until new studies are released, this is something weíll just have to ponder on our own.

Until then, we can say that based on the data we’ve looked at, African mango extract, when taken regularly, does indeed have positive effects on weight loss, body fat reduction, cholesterol levels, as well as blood pressure. There are also seems to be strong evidence that it boosts energy levels and lowers fatigue, based on its positive effect on the metabolism and overall health and well-being.

Read My African Mango Weight Lose Story.