Drug & supplement interaction

Irvingia Gabonensis + Insulin

Insulin brand name: NovoRapid Insulin.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Irvingia Gabonensis has a moderate interaction with Insulin. Theoretically, taking Irvingia gabonensis with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Irvingia Gabonensis and Insulin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Insulin

Insulin falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Irvingia Gabonensis interacts with.

Theoretically, taking Irvingia gabonensis with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients.
Human research shows that Irvingia gabonensis decreases blood sugar in diabetic patients being treated with antidiabetes agents. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: insulin already lowers your blood sugar, and Irvingia gabonensis (African mango) may nudge it down even further. Some human studies in people with diabetes found their blood sugar dropped while taking this seed extract, likely thanks to its soluble fiber and effects on how the body handles sugar. Stacked on top of your NovoRapid, that extra lowering could tip you into a low (hypoglycemia).

What that feels like: shakiness, sweating, a racing heart, dizziness, confusion, or feeling hungry and irritable. Now, this is a theoretical concern based on limited research, so don't panic. If you're considering this supplement, check in with your pharmacist or doctor first, keep an eye on your glucose readings, and never adjust your insulin dose on your own.

References
  1. Adamson, I., Okafor, C., and Abu-Bakare, A. A supplement of Dikanut (Irvingia gabonesis) improves treatment of type II diabetics. West Afr.J.Med. 1990;9(2):108-115.
  2. Adamson, I., Okafor, C., and Abu-Bakare, A. Erythrocyte membrane ATPases in diabetes: effect of dikanut (Irvingia gabonensis). Enzyme 1986;36(3):212-215. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Irvingia Gabonensis Also Interacts With Other Medications

Irvingia Gabonensis has 93 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Insulin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Irvingia Gabonensis

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Irvingia Gabonensis. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Insulin

This page covers Irvingia Gabonensis only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Insulin page lists 242 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Chelation Therapy Products (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Agaricus Mushroom (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 211 moderate · 29 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Insulin page

“Someone injecting insulin (NovoRapid) is often the same person browsing supplements sold for blood sugar support, which is exactly why this list warrants genuine caution. Nearly all 242 entries push glucose one way or the other, most often further down, stacking with insulin and raising the risk of hypoglycemia, meaning dangerously low…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Insulin interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Irvingia Gabonensis as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 406 real supplement products containing Irvingia Gabonensis, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Irvingia Gabonensis. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Insulin too, on top of Irvingia Gabonensis — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Irvingia Gabonensis and Insulin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Irvingia Gabonensis
Top 25%

#257 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Insulin
Top 25%

#460 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Irvingia Gabonensis

What is Irvingia Gabonensis?

Irvingia Gabonensis
  • Weight loss
  • Appetite control
  • Cholesterol support
  • Blood sugar support
  • Metabolism support

Irvingia gabonensis (African mango) is a seed extract marketed mainly for weight loss and metabolic health. A few small studies suggest possible benefits, but the research is limited and low-quality, so the true effect is uncertain. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and do not rely on it in place of proven diet and lifestyle changes.

Read the full Irvingia Gabonensis monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Irvingia Gabonensis

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Irvingia Gabonensis — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
93Moderate
0Minor
2,736No known interaction
Moderate

93 interactions

Showing 60 of 93 moderate interactions — see all 93 on the Irvingia Gabonensis page.

No interaction 2,736 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Irvingia Gabonensis and Insulin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Irvingia Gabonensis with Insulin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Irvingia Gabonensis and Insulin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.