You might recognize Irvinga gabonensis as a huge source of chatter that stoked up the weight loss community.Like hoodia and acai berry, this may turn out to be another hoax. Those who are looking for some ways on how to lose weight should beware.

Irvinga is a high fat nut containing 14% fiber that comes from the West African wild mango tree. The fiber is good for health and weight loss, but is it something special?

In a study by a Cameroon research group, 40 obese people were divided into two groups and tested with Irvingia gabonensis versus a placebo to see. Subjects were tested by taking 1.05 grams of an Invingia extract three times daily for a month.While participating measurements of their weight, size, blood pressure, and cholesterol were kept.

They also kept food and activity journals. The study showed that the Irvingia group lost an average weight of 11.5 pounds while the placebo group lost almost 3 pounds. On average, almost 3 pounds were lost by the placebo group, but the Irvingia group lost an average of 11.5 pounds.

The Irvingia group also had lower blood pressure while LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol went down while HDL cholesterol went up. The reasons for the weight loss are not clear: perhaps that group ate less and the results were not related to any effect from the supplement. Can you get the same results with losing weight fast instead of being slow and consistent? I think not.

In another study by the same group, they combined Cissus quadrangularis with the Irvingia and made three test groups: one with the Irvingia/Cissus blend, one with Cissus only, and another with placebo.

This time, the Invingia group tested better again across the same measurements. Yet another test was conducted that showed an amazing 28 pound average weight loss over ten weeks, together with improvements in body chemistry. One who understands research might be skeptical of these results, but the average person probably would think the results are wonderful.

Results like these should raise questions in your mind before running out to purchase Irvingia at the health food store.A place like a hospital where activity and food can be monitored is where a controlled study would be performed. The studies I mentioned were not controlled, meaning that there’s no way to verify the self-reported food intakes and there’s no way to tell what else was going on with the people involved.

The rights to the product are owned by the person responsible for the research, making the situation even worse! The results of 28 pounds lost in 10 weeks without changes in exercise or eating would mean that the supplement increased metabolism by 1400 calories per day. Don’t you remember the last miracle pill, Hoodia?In summary, Irvingia might be good for fiber, but with so many alternative sources being more cost effective, it hardly seems worth the high price tag.

For more information go to our weight loss forum or for a free fat loss report, go to www.fatlossfactor.com.