Effects of Avocado Intake on the Nutritional Status of Families

University of California San Diego

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cardiovascular Disease

Treatments: Behavioral: Diet tips; Behavioral: Avocado consumption advice; Other: High-intake avocados; Other: Low-intake avocados

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02903433

160584

Details and patient eligibility

About

Avocados are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, magnesium, and poly- and mono-unsaturated fats. They can be a nutrient dense component of healthful dietary patterns and have the potential to improve the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profiles of families in the United States (US). The proposed research plan will focus on the contribution of avocado intake to the reduction in CVD risk of US families, by examining the effects of avocado intake on the overall nutritional status of families. Of particular interest is establishing these effects in ethnic populations such as Hispanics/Latinos. On average, Hispanic/Latinos are at increased risk for metabolic diseases that predispose to CVD. This 6-month cluster randomized trial in Hispanic/Latino Americans aims to accurately determine the impact of avocados on the overall dietary pattern of their families. Future research will extend the results of the current trial to a larger sample of ethnically diverse families in order to evaluate whether sustained changes occur in nutritional, cardiovascular and metabolic health status.

Full description

Specific Aim 1: To determine how avocados are incorporated into the family's dietary pattern and impact selected measures of nutritional status:

1. To determine if avocado intake substitutes for, or adds to, other sources of calories in the family diet.
2. To determine if avocado intake helps reduce between-meal snacking of family members.
3. To determine if avocados help families meet US Dietary Guidelines for recommended intake of: poly- and monounsaturated fats; vegetables; fiber; selected nutrients (vitamins C, D and E, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, potassium, iron); lutein and other carotenoids.

Specific aim 2: To determine if increased avocado intake affects cardio-metabolic risk factors to include lipids, glucose, insulin, and HbA1c.

Enrollment: 72 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Be part of a family that consists of at least 3 individuals, but no more than 8, who reside in the same home
2. Self-identify as Latino or Hispanic
3. Be older than 5 years of age

Exclusion criteria

1. Families with members who have clinically severe chronic diseases requiring specific diets (e.g. stage IV congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis)
2. Those allergic to avocados
3. Those with LATEX allergy
4. Families who are already high consumers of avocados (i.e. more than 1 avocado per adult and more than ½ avocado per child per day);
5. Those who are unwilling to eat avocados.
6. Family members with nursing or pregnant females or females planning to become pregnant
7. Family members under the age of 5 years will not be counted toward the number of family members who will be expected to participate in the intervention (i.e., adhere to healthy diet tips or consume avocados)
8. Families intending to move, or which include family members intending to move, within the next 6 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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72 participants in 2 patient groups

High Intake Group

Experimental group

Description:

Throughout the entire study, this group will be provided with 14 avocados per week and will receive 12 bi-weekly home visits over a 6-month period during which they will receive specific brochures offering "diet tips". This group will be given specific advice on avocado consumption. Each month throughout the study, we will provide opportunities for families to visit the study kitchen at the SYHC to observe the staff preparing recipes with avocado, participate in preparing recipes, and taste recipes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Avocado consumption advice

Other: High-intake avocados

Behavioral: Diet tips

Low Intake Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

This group will receive 3 avocados per week, as well as 12 bi-weekly home visits over a 6-month period during which they will be provided with the same educational materials (i.e., "Diet Tips") as those assigned to the "High intake" group. Participants in this group will be encouraged to improve the quality of their diets, but will not be given specific advice on avocado consumption. However, each month throughout the study, we will provide opportunities for families to visit the study kitchen at the SYHC to observe the staff preparing recipes with avocado, participate in preparing recipes, and taste recipes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Avocado consumption advice

Behavioral: Diet tips

Other: Low-intake avocados