African Mango

Scientific Name(s): Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex Ororke) Baillon
Common Name(s): African mango, African wild mango, Bush mango, Dika, Dikabread tree, Dikanut, Iba-tree, Irvingia, Odika, Ogbono, Sweet bush mango.

What Is It?

If you were hoping that African mango supplements would help with weight loss, you should know that the research on this is thin.

Irvingia gabonensis (IG) is the Latin name of the tree grown in Central and West Africa that produces a fruit similar to a mango and nicknamed African mango, wild mango, dika nut, or bush mango.

In areas where IG grows, its flesh is widely eaten. But it's the seed or nut (fresh or dried) that contains the supposedly powerful ingredients. Sold almost exclusively online, the seed extract comes in powder, liquid, and capsules.

 

Uses

In alternative medicine, African mango is purported to promote weight loss by suppressing appetite, speeding up metabolism and preventing fat buildup.

1.In addition, some proponents claim that African mango can help treat certain health problems, such as high cholesterol and diabetes. 

 

Purported Benefits  

To date, few scientific studies have tested the health effects of African mango. However, some research suggests that African mango may help protect against obesity and enhance metabolic health.

For instance, in a 2009 study in Lipids in Health and Disease, researchers found that participants who took African mango every day for 10 weeks experienced significant improvements in body weight, body fat, waist size, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and levels of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation).2 The study involved 102 healthy overweight or obese people; half of the participants received African mango, while the other half were given a placebo. 

 

Deciding Whether to Use It

Due to a lack of supporting research, it's too soon to recommend African Mango as a treatment for weight loss. If you're looking to lose weight, the National Institutes of Health recommends following a weight-management plan that pairs healthy eating with regular exercise. Keeping a food diary, getting eight hours of sleep each night, and managing your stress may also help you reach and maintain a healthy weight.

If you're considering the use of African mango for a condition (such as diabetes), make sure to consult your physician before starting your supplement regimen. Self-treating a condition with African mango and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. 

 

                                                           

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