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Weight Loss
The Incredible Weight-Loss And Fat Burning Capabilities Of Wild Mango
Date: 10/08/11
That’s exactly what I thought when I heard of Irvingia Gabonensis, the latest weight loss supplement to hit the marketplace. Knowing how many people struggle to keep their weight down or combat obesity, I simply had to investigate and find out exactly what the truth is behind Irvingia Gabonensis.
If you come across let’s say a ‘new wonder supplement’ that promises to make you lose weight, burn fat super fast without any exercise, maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation and is an anti- diabetic, you won’t be blamed for thinking: Yeah right, somewhere, someone is having a laugh...
That’s exactly what I thought when I heard of Irvingia Gabonensis, the latest weight loss supplement to hit the marketplace. Knowing how many people struggle to keep their weight down or combat obesity, I simply had to investigate and find out exactly what the truth is behind Irvingia Gabonensis.
African Roots
Irvingia gabonensis comes from a West African tree commonly known as the wild mango or bush mango. The tree’s edible fruits are especially known for their nuts which go by many different names including ogbono, etima, odika or dika nuts. Like other nuts and seeds, Irvingia gabonensis is high in fat (50%), and oil can be extracted from them. Irvingia gabonensis is also comprised of 26.4% carbohydrate, 7.5% protein, 2.3% ash and 14% fibre.
It’s well known that dietary fibres are often recommended to aid with weight loss programs as well as for their health benefits.
First Weight Loss study on Irvingia gabonensis
Dr Julius Oben, The Head of the Laboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, was performing epidemiological studies in African tribal populations when he noted that people in a certain region had low incidences of obesity, diabetes, and related diseases. Exploring further, he found that they use Irvingia paste to thicken soups an average of ten times per week.
In light of this, a research group (under the guidance of Dr Julius Oben), set up a randomised double blind study in 2005, to see if Irvingia gabonensis could aid weight loss.
40 obese subjects, age 19 to 52, were divided into placebo and experimental groups. The experimental group received 1.05 grams of Irvingia seed extract 3 times a day (total 3.15 grams) for 30 days.
Subjects were examined weekly and tested for body weight, body fat and hip/waist circumferences. Blood pressure was measured and blood samples were also collected after an overnight fast and tested for total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL-cholesterol and glucose. The subjects were interviewed about their physical activity and food intake during the trial and were instructed to follow a low fat diet of 1800 calories per day and keep a food record for seven days.
At the end of the 30 day trial, the Irvingia group had lost an average of 5.26 kilos (11.5 lbs) and the placebo group had lost only 1.32 kilos (2.9 lbs). The group receiving Irvingia also experienced a decrease in systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol. HDL (good) cholesterol increased.
Second study shows similar results
In March of 2008, the same research group published the results of their second study about Irvingia and weight loss.
After ten weeks, the comparison of the Irvingia extract group with the control group which had received a placebo demonstrated a striking difference: the Irvingia group had an average weight loss of 28 lbs, while the placebo group had only lost less than two pounds.
The researchers noticed that C-reactive protein levels, (an indicator of the level of inflammation going on in the body), were reduced in the Irvingia group. C-reactive protein cross-binds with leptin (a hormone that inhibits food intake in people of normal body weight), rendering it unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. The brain cannot get the leptin-induced appetite control signal. Lowering C- reactive protein levels let the leptin get across the blood- brain barrier to shut off appetite. This explains the apparent leptin insensitivity in obese people.
There were also drops in total cholesterol, and LDL, and blood sugar while HDL went up. Leptin concentrations went down, as sensitivity to leptin increased.
Sobering up to the facts
OK, so 28 pounds weight loss is pretty impressive. But these are only two studies and both have been done by the same research group. Perhaps more research is necessary to prove and actually cement these claims as rock solid – I for one, would really love to see that happening, because I believe there is truth in these finding (just less inflated...)
However, it is sad that a natural supplement must make claims such as: "28 pounds of fat loss in 10 weeks with NO CHANGE IN DIET OR EXERCISE.", because by now we all know that healthy weight can only be maintained through a balanced and nutritious diet and by regular exercise.
Besides, if you do the math 28 pounds of fat loss in 10 weeks = 9,800 calories per week, or 1400 calories per day. So, the researchers claims that this product will raise metabolic rate by 1400 calories per day...
Existing research already suggests that the health benefits of Irvingia extract includes cholesterol improvements, glycaemic control, antibacterial actions and antioxidant properties. It's possible that some of the proposed anti- obesity benefits may also be confirmed.
Irvingia gabonensis is not readily available on the shelves of UK health food stores and can only be sourced through online resources.
Sources:
‘Irvingia Gabonensis Supplement Craze: In-Credible Weight Loss from an African Tree?’ by Tom Venuto, published online, thefactsaboutfitness.com
‘Life Extension Still the Only Supplier of Certified Authentic Irvingia gabonensis’ by Rey Searles, published online 07.08.09, euroinvestor.co.uk
‘Irvingia: Anti-Diabetic Weight Loss Supplement from African Mango’ by Roy C, published online 02.28.09, nowpublic.com
‘The effect of Irvingia gabonensis seeds on body weight and blood lipids of obese subjects in Cameroon’ by Judith L Ngondi, Julius E Oben and Samuel R Minka, published online 25.05.05, pubmedcentral.nih.gov
Back to topThat’s exactly what I thought when I heard of Irvingia Gabonensis, the latest weight loss supplement to hit the marketplace. Knowing how many people struggle to keep their weight down or combat obesity, I simply had to investigate and find out exactly what the truth is behind Irvingia Gabonensis.
African Roots
Irvingia gabonensis comes from a West African tree commonly known as the wild mango or bush mango. The tree’s edible fruits are especially known for their nuts which go by many different names including ogbono, etima, odika or dika nuts. Like other nuts and seeds, Irvingia gabonensis is high in fat (50%), and oil can be extracted from them. Irvingia gabonensis is also comprised of 26.4% carbohydrate, 7.5% protein, 2.3% ash and 14% fibre.
It’s well known that dietary fibres are often recommended to aid with weight loss programs as well as for their health benefits.
First Weight Loss study on Irvingia gabonensis
Dr Julius Oben, The Head of the Laboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, was performing epidemiological studies in African tribal populations when he noted that people in a certain region had low incidences of obesity, diabetes, and related diseases. Exploring further, he found that they use Irvingia paste to thicken soups an average of ten times per week.
In light of this, a research group (under the guidance of Dr Julius Oben), set up a randomised double blind study in 2005, to see if Irvingia gabonensis could aid weight loss.
40 obese subjects, age 19 to 52, were divided into placebo and experimental groups. The experimental group received 1.05 grams of Irvingia seed extract 3 times a day (total 3.15 grams) for 30 days.
Subjects were examined weekly and tested for body weight, body fat and hip/waist circumferences. Blood pressure was measured and blood samples were also collected after an overnight fast and tested for total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL-cholesterol and glucose. The subjects were interviewed about their physical activity and food intake during the trial and were instructed to follow a low fat diet of 1800 calories per day and keep a food record for seven days.
At the end of the 30 day trial, the Irvingia group had lost an average of 5.26 kilos (11.5 lbs) and the placebo group had lost only 1.32 kilos (2.9 lbs). The group receiving Irvingia also experienced a decrease in systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol. HDL (good) cholesterol increased.
Second study shows similar results
In March of 2008, the same research group published the results of their second study about Irvingia and weight loss.
After ten weeks, the comparison of the Irvingia extract group with the control group which had received a placebo demonstrated a striking difference: the Irvingia group had an average weight loss of 28 lbs, while the placebo group had only lost less than two pounds.
The researchers noticed that C-reactive protein levels, (an indicator of the level of inflammation going on in the body), were reduced in the Irvingia group. C-reactive protein cross-binds with leptin (a hormone that inhibits food intake in people of normal body weight), rendering it unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. The brain cannot get the leptin-induced appetite control signal. Lowering C- reactive protein levels let the leptin get across the blood- brain barrier to shut off appetite. This explains the apparent leptin insensitivity in obese people.
There were also drops in total cholesterol, and LDL, and blood sugar while HDL went up. Leptin concentrations went down, as sensitivity to leptin increased.
Sobering up to the facts
OK, so 28 pounds weight loss is pretty impressive. But these are only two studies and both have been done by the same research group. Perhaps more research is necessary to prove and actually cement these claims as rock solid – I for one, would really love to see that happening, because I believe there is truth in these finding (just less inflated...)
However, it is sad that a natural supplement must make claims such as: "28 pounds of fat loss in 10 weeks with NO CHANGE IN DIET OR EXERCISE.", because by now we all know that healthy weight can only be maintained through a balanced and nutritious diet and by regular exercise.
Besides, if you do the math 28 pounds of fat loss in 10 weeks = 9,800 calories per week, or 1400 calories per day. So, the researchers claims that this product will raise metabolic rate by 1400 calories per day...
Existing research already suggests that the health benefits of Irvingia extract includes cholesterol improvements, glycaemic control, antibacterial actions and antioxidant properties. It's possible that some of the proposed anti- obesity benefits may also be confirmed.
Irvingia gabonensis is not readily available on the shelves of UK health food stores and can only be sourced through online resources.
Sources:
‘Irvingia Gabonensis Supplement Craze: In-Credible Weight Loss from an African Tree?’ by Tom Venuto, published online, thefactsaboutfitness.com
‘Life Extension Still the Only Supplier of Certified Authentic Irvingia gabonensis’ by Rey Searles, published online 07.08.09, euroinvestor.co.uk
‘Irvingia: Anti-Diabetic Weight Loss Supplement from African Mango’ by Roy C, published online 02.28.09, nowpublic.com
‘The effect of Irvingia gabonensis seeds on body weight and blood lipids of obese subjects in Cameroon’ by Judith L Ngondi, Julius E Oben and Samuel R Minka, published online 25.05.05, pubmedcentral.nih.gov
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