In our last article, The Science Behind African Mango, we looked at exactly what African Mango was and what role it played in terms of weight loss. Clearly, the science behind African Mango is impressive, but now we looked to see if there are clinical studies to back up the science.

You Want to Know the Truth, Go To The Source

Do a quick search in Google for "African Mango" and you will find endless weight loss claims – Dr. Oz said this, Celebrity X said that, A Study found incredible weight loss, Lose 20 Pounds in 2 Weeks! While it sure would be great to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks, that is of course not true. What is true, what did the studies and Dr. Oz really say? Let's go directly to the sources and find out.

Study 1 – Significant Weight Loss Over a 10 Week Period.

The breakthrough, and most quoted African Mango study is the one that was published in the Lipids In Health and Disease Journal on March 2nd, 2009. To set the record straight, here is the information, direct from the study –


In case you missed our introductory article, IGOB131 is a proprietary form of African Mango that was used in this study.

The BOS Take on Study 1

First, we encourage you to follow the above link and read the entire study if you like. You will find that the results were impressive - At the end of 10 weeks, the IGOB131™ group lost an average of 28 pounds, 6.7 inches from their waistline and reduced body fat by 18.4%. Also serum chemistry changes demonstrated IGOB131™ patients reduced total cholesterol by 26%, LDL cholesterol by 27%, fasting blood glucose levels by 32% and serum CRP levels by 52%.

Here is what we like about the above study:

• Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study – Gold Standard
• Published in a Peer Reviewed Journal
• Weight Loss Results Were Statistically Significant
• No Significant Side Effects

What Could be Better:

• A Larger Sample Size
• Testing on Overweight, But Not Obese Subjects

Overall, the results of the study are very impressive and tend to back up the theories on how African Mango can be a tremendous weight loss aid. It is important to note that IGOB131, at 150mg, twice a day was used in this study. When we look at African Mango supplements, we will want to find supplements that use this exact ingredient, at the exact same dosage.

Study 2 – The Effects of a Higher Dosage of IGOB131 on Cholesterol Levels

A second study, also done in the Journal of Lipids of Health and Disease, looked at the effects of a larger dosage of IGOB131 on cholesterol levels. In this study, one group of subjects were given 350mg of IGOB131, 3 times a day (a total of 1.05 grams of IGOB131 a day) for 4 weeks. A control group was given a placebo. Here are the results in terms of cholesterol levels, directly from the journal –


The BOS Take on Study 2

The change in cholesterol levels after just 4 weeks are startling. A 46% reduction in "bad" LDL cholesterol with a 47% increase in "good" HDL cholesterol levels is very impressive. Let's look at the pros and cons of the study –

Here is what we like about the above study:

• Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study – Gold Standard
• Published in a Peer Reviewed Journal
• Change in Cholesterol Levels Were Statistically Significant

What Could be Better:

• Sample Size Was Very Small (40)
• Would Like to See Results on Non-Obese Subjects

Overall, we consider this study a fascinating start…but just a start. Due to the very small sample size, it would be hard to draw any absolute conclusions. The study does raise another possible use for African Mango, beyond weight management.

What Did Dr. Oz Really Say About African Mango

If Guinness Book of World Records had a category for most misquoted celebrity, Dr. Oz and Oprah would be the winner and runner up, hands down! Yes, Dr. Oz has praised African Mango in his segment on miracles in your medicine cabinet that can help you lose 10 pounds. Yes, Dr. Oz is also on the cover of First For Women Magazine (1/2/2012) and says "Taking 150 mg of this African mango seed extract twice daily has been shown to help decrease weight and waist circumference". Here are direct links to Dr. Oz's mention of African Mango –

Here Dr. Oz Talks About Irvingia and Fixes for Women Over 40

Here Dr. Tanya Edwards Talks African Mango on the Dr. Oz Blog

Yes, Dr. Oz has talked positively about African Mango – but what you will not find is Dr. Oz recommending one specific brand of African Mango. This is where the misinformation and misquoting come in. Many web sites will show a photo of Dr. Oz, have his quote about African Mango and then show a picture of their product. The implication is that Dr. Oz endorses their supplement. THIS IS NOT TRUE! Dr. Oz sees the potential of African Mango, but he is NOT out pushing specific brands.

Conclusion on African Mango, IGOB131, Irvingia Gabonensis

It may have many different names, but whatever you call African Mango, you have to be impressed by its health benefits. We started out thinking that African Mango would be the latest fad miracle weight loss pill, with no science or research behind it. After doing our investigation, it is clear that African Mango has significant research and science to back up its claims.

Would we like to see more and bigger studies? Of course, but for now, the research regarding African Mango is positive enough that we decided to find the best African Mango supplement on the market. Think all African Mango products are the same? Not by a long shot!

Let's move on to How to Pick the Best African Mango Supplement…