Ingredient profile
African Mango in Olivaro: Weight Claims, Studies and Safety
African mango (Irvingia gabonensis) seed extract is fourth in Olivaro's 200 mg blend, with no amount printed. It is sold for weight management, but the trials are small and weak (MSKCC, Irvingia gabonensis (African mango)). One studied 150 mg twice a day (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss). Label order caps it at 50 mg per dropper. It may add to diabetes medicine.
Written by the Olivaro editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is African mango?
African mango is a tree from the rainforests of West and Central Africa. It is also called bush mango. The fruit is eaten, and the seeds, often called dika nuts, are used in cooking (MSKCC, Irvingia gabonensis (African mango)).
Supplements use an extract of the seed, not the fruit. Olivaro lists "African Mango (Irvingia gabonensis) Seed Extract", which matches the part used in most studies.
| Label name | African Mango (Irvingia gabonensis) Seed Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Irvingia gabonensis seed |
| Place in the label list | 4 of 22 in the blend (listed from most to least by weight) |
| Amount per dropper | Not disclosed. Part of the 200 mg proprietary blend. |
| Dose used in studies | 150 mg twice a day (300 mg) |
| Strength of evidence | Weak, small trials |
| Marketed or traditional use | Sold for weight management |
| Watch for | Gas, headache, sleep problems; caution with diabetes drugs. |
The claims
Does African mango help you lose weight?
The evidence is weak. Memorial Sloan Kettering notes that most weight studies were small and poorly designed, and human data on blood sugar are limited (MSKCC, Irvingia gabonensis (African mango)).
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements describes a small 10-week trial that gave 150 mg before lunch and before dinner, or 300 mg a day. It calls the overall evidence limited (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss).
- Few trials, with few people in each.
- Results have not been confirmed in large, well-run trials.
- Blood sugar results come mostly from animal work, not people.
The Olivaro sales page speaks of support for weight management. That wording is not a weight-loss promise, and no study has tested Olivaro for weight change. The Federal Trade Commission expects health claims to rest on human trials of the same product and dose (FTC, Health Products Compliance Guidance).
Dose vs research
How much African mango is in Olivaro compared with studies?
Olivaro does not print the amount. As the fourth of 22 blend ingredients, it can hold 50 mg per dropper at most, or 100 mg at 2 droppers, against 300 mg a day in the trial (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss) (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)).
The bars use the average share of about 18 mg a day at 2 droppers. The table shows the best case allowed by label order.
| Scenario | Per day at 2 droppers | Share of 300 mg studied |
|---|---|---|
| Average share of the blend | about 18 mg | about 6% |
| Most possible (label order) | 100 mg | about 33% |
| Studied dose | 300 mg (150 mg twice a day) | 100% |
Even the best case reaches a third of the studied dose, and that dose itself had weak support. Our Supplement Facts walkthrough explains how label order sets these limits.
Safety
What are the side effects of African mango?
Reported side effects include gas, headache and trouble sleeping. One case of kidney failure that needed dialysis has also been reported (MSKCC, Irvingia gabonensis (African mango)).
Gas and headache
Mild stomach and head complaints are the most often reported.
Poor sleep
Trouble sleeping is listed. Olivaro's guarana and green tea add caffeine, which could add to it.
Kidney problem
One person developed kidney failure. People with kidney disease should ask a doctor before any African mango product.
At the small amounts possible in Olivaro, these effects are less likely. They are not ruled out, though, because the exact amount is unknown. The full Olivaro side effects page lists every ingredient.
Medicines
Can African mango interact with diabetes medicine?
It might. Memorial Sloan Kettering lists diabetes medicine as a caution because African mango lowered glucose in rats and the effects could add up (MSKCC, Irvingia gabonensis (African mango)).
Animal results do not always hold in people. Still, Olivaro pairs African mango with chromium, gymnema and Panax ginseng, which carry similar flags. Several small effects can stack.
Talk to your doctor before you change any diabetes medicine or add a supplement. Watch for a low: generally below 70 mg/dL, with shakiness, sweating, hunger or confusion (NIDDK, Low Blood Glucose).
Our supplements and diabetes medicine guide covers how to raise this with your care team.
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What does Olivaro look like, and how long does a bottle last?
Olivaro comes as a 30 mL amber dropper bottle with 30 servings of 1 mL. At 1 dropper a day a bottle lasts 30 days; at 2 droppers, 15 days.
The African mango in each dropper is part of a shared 200 mg blend. Doubling to 2 droppers doubles the blend, but even then the best case stays well below the trial dose.
Prices and pack sizes are on the Olivaro pricing page.
Our take
Is African mango a good reason to try Olivaro?
No. It is one of the higher-listed plants in the blend, but its research is thin and Olivaro cannot reach the studied dose.
In its favor
- Fourth in the blend, so likely one of the larger shares
- Seed extract, the part used in trials
Against it
- Small, weak weight trials
- At most a third of the studied dose
- Possible added effect with diabetes medicine
For weight, the strongest evidence still points to food and activity changes (NIDDK, Diabetes Prevention Program).
Ingredient pages
What other Olivaro ingredients have their own profile?
Green tea and guarana come next, the two caffeine sources in the blend.
FAQ
African mango in Olivaro: common questions
Does African mango really work for weight loss?
The evidence is weak. Most African mango trials were small and poorly designed, and the results have not been well confirmed. One 10-week trial used 150 mg twice a day. No study shows that the smaller amount possible in Olivaro changes weight.
How much African mango is in Olivaro?
The label does not say. African mango is fourth of 22 ingredients in a 200 mg blend, so it can be 50 mg per dropper at most, or 100 mg at 2 droppers. The real amount could be lower. The trial dose was 300 mg a day.
What are the side effects of African mango extract?
Reported side effects include gas, headache and trouble sleeping. One person developed kidney failure that needed dialysis. People with kidney disease, or anyone using diabetes medicine, should ask a doctor before taking an African mango product, including blends like Olivaro.
Can African mango lower blood sugar?
Human data are limited. Glucose-lowering effects were seen mainly in rats, which is why African mango is flagged as a caution with diabetes medicine. It is not a diabetes treatment, and it should never replace prescribed medicine.
Is African mango the same as regular mango?
No. African mango, Irvingia gabonensis, is a different tree from the common mango. Its seeds, called dika nuts, are used in West and Central African cooking, and supplements use an extract of those seeds rather than the fruit.
Can I take African mango with metformin?
Ask your doctor first. African mango may add to the effect of diabetes medicines, based on animal studies. The risk of a low is higher if you also use insulin or a sulfonylurea. Your doctor may suggest checking your readings more often when you start.
Is Olivaro a weight-loss product?
The sales page positions Olivaro as nutritional support for glucose metabolism, metabolic health and weight management. That is not a promise of weight loss, and no study of Olivaro has been published. Diet and activity changes have the strongest evidence.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the label, the sales page and linked public health sources.
Page updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner, not by the manufacturer. Purchases through our order links earn us money.
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