Irvingia Gabonensis is considered to be a safe supplement with low risk of side effects.
When taken at safe dosages, Irvingia gabonensis side effects are rare and generally mild. Short-lasting and mild side effects include headaches, nausea, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal discomfort and/or flatulence.
It is well-tolerated in research trials, but there is a possibility of interactions when used with certain medications or by individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
Also called African mango, oolong and/or dika, Irvingia gabonensis is an African fruit-bearing tree that grows over 130 feet tall. Its mango-like fruits are high in good fats and its seeds are high in protein and used as dietary supplements.
It is promoted as a weight loss supplement and has been found to reduce appetite, improve blood glucose levels and improve cholesterol levels.



- Helps control the appetite
- Increases leptin sensitivity & adiponectin
- Improves blood sugar & cholesterol
Irvingia Gabonensis Overview
Irvingia Gabonensis has been clinically associated with health benefits including reducing LDL cholesterol, increasing HDL cholesterol, reversing insulin/leptin resistance, and lowering triglyceride levels.
It may have an indirect effect on reducing the risk for many other preventable disease and conditions, including cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke and metabolic syndrome.
It works primarily by reducing the appetite and by inhibiting adipogenesis (the production of new fat). It has also been observed to increase the expression of adiponectin, which is involved in the breakdown of fat in muscle.
It has been shown to reduce glucose levels in the blood, which can have positive benefits in most cases but can also be a source of potential Irvingia Gabonensis side effects.
In individuals with hypoglycemia or taking drugs to control blood sugar levels, this benefit can actually have a negative effect and cause blood sugar levels to fall too low.
Irvingia Gabonensis extract can also reverse leptin resistance, which is common among obese individuals. When you become resistant or insensitive to leptin, it makes it difficult for your brain to realize when it has enough food and to curb hunger signals.
Taking Irvingia supplements has been shown to correct this and improve appetite control, helping to facilitate weight loss.
Irvingia Gabonensis for Appetite Control and Weight Loss
In one human study, Irvingia gabonensis was shown to reduce triglyceride levels by 44.9%. This was accomplished by administering 1.05 grams of Irvingia extract three times each day for a period of 12 weeks.
In another study, LDL cholesterol levels dropped more than 45% with the same dose over ten weeks. Further, “good” HDL cholesterol levels were shown to increase by more than 46% simultaneously.
In a separate study, Irvingia extracts were shown to affect blood glucose levels. When 150mg was administered three times daily over 10 weeks, blood glucose levels dropped by 22.5%. In comparison, a placebo group showed glucose drops of only 5.3%. Also, 3.15 grams daily of Irvingia seems to have caused a 32.36% reduction in blood glucose after one month of supplementation.
In one new study, taking 150mg of I. gabonensis IGOB131 seed extract before lunch and dinner every day for 10 weeks was associated with an 87% increase in appetite control. This resulted in a 389 kilocalorie deficit and may be responsible for observed decreases in waist circumference, and a 6.3% decrease in overall bodily fat mass.
Irvingia Gabonensis and Cissus Quadrangularis
Researchers are measuring the effects of Irvingia gabonensis when stacked with Cissus quadrangularis. C. quadrangularis has been clinically proven in the past to reduce bodyweight in obese individuals.
When Cissus was stacked with 150mg doses of Irvingia for 10 weeks, weight reductions increased from 14.63% of body mass taking Cissus alone to 20.06% with a Cissus and Irvingia stack.
Cissus Quadrangularis is generally safe, but may cause side effects in some individuals. There is insufficient research into the potential side effects of stacking Irvingia gabonensis with this compound or with other weight loss ingredients. However, there are no direct interactions noted with other natural or herbal supplements.
Irvingia Gabonensis for Insulin and Leptin Resistance
One of the most important ways that Irvingia Gabonensis works for weight loss is by improving leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that controls appetite. It is created in adipocytes – fat cells that are located in the connective tissues and act to store free circulating fatty acids from the circulatory system.
When fats are gathered, they are stored in the adipocytes to ensure resources are available in case of famine situations.
The adipocytes release leptin into the bloodstream in direct relation to the amount of fats stored. This is used to signal the brain that there are sufficient energy stores available. When leptin is released, it crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to hunger center receptors in the lateral hypothalamus.
This stops the signals sent by the hypothalamus telling your brain to ingest more calories. Being able to receive these signals sent by leptin is critically important for controlling appetite and preventing weight gain.
Leptin resistance results when this chemical is either not sufficiently released from the adipocytes or when it does not cause the appropriate response in the cell after binding to receptors in the hypothalamus.
Essentially, the receptors have become desensitized to the effects of this chemical. If the substance is not able to be recognized, or if it never is released at all, then its effects are voided.
Over time, excess levels of this hormone (which occur in obese individuals) cause the hypothalamus to become desensitized to leptin. This results in hormonal imbalances that cause hunger signals to be inappropriately regulated.
Insatiable appetite, weight gain and obesity may develop; causing an array of negative side effects, the possibility of developing disease, and possibly premature death via any number of preventable conditions.
In research trials, Irvingia Gabonensis has been shown to reverse this resistance to leptin in the hypothalamus. Research shows that it can improve appetite regulation among individuals who are obese. In this way, the supplement is able to promote weight loss in a safe, natural manner that does not cause the risk of side effects linked to many stimulant diet pills.
Irvingia Gabonensis Side Effects and Safety
Irvingia gabonensis side effects are not experienced by the majority of users. They are not considered severe and they are usually transient. Flatulence, headaches and/or nausea may result, particularly when first using this supplement. Because the lateral hypothalamus not only regulates hunger cues, but sleep cycles as well, African mango may cause disturbances in sleep for some people.
Because it can affect blood-glucose levels, Irvingia is not recommended for diabetics. I. gabonensis is also not recommended for nursing moms or pregnant women due to a lack of research in these groups.
In addition to the exclusions above, Irvingia is not recommended for anyone who is scheduled for surgery. In all cases, it is best to discuss any questions about possible Irvingia gabonensis side effects with your doctor prior to beginning a supplementation regimen.
Article last updated on: April 16th, 2018 by Nootriment