Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background

Avocados contain fiber, lutein, and vitamin E, and they are a rich source of MUFAs. The effect of including an avocado daily as part of a hypocaloric weight-loss diet on weight loss is not known.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of daily avocado consumption as part of a hypocaloric diet on weight loss, body composition, satiety, biomarkers of inflammation, and intestinal microbiota composition.

Methods

In this randomized, parallel-controlled, open-label, 2-arm intervention study, 51 healthy overweight/obese women and men were assigned to a hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily (AVO; n = 24) or a hypocaloric diet (CTRL; n = 27) without daily avocado for 12 wk. Serum markers and intestinal microbiota were analyzed at baseline and week 12.

Results

Both groups experienced significant weight loss, decrease in BMI (in kg/m2), total body fat, and visceral adipose tissue, respectively (AVO: −2.3 ± 2 kg, −0.8 ± 0.8, −1.1% ± 2%, and −81.2 ± 118 g; CTRL: −2.6 ± 3.6 kg, −0.9 ± 1, −1.5% ± 2%, and −87.4 ± 216 g). We observed a significant decrease in serum glucose over time in the control group compared with the AVO group. There was no change between the groups in serum triglyceride, but a significant decrease from baseline to 12 wk was observed in the AVO group. Serum hepatic growth factor (HGF) and relative proportion of bacterial phyla (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes), family (Bacteroidaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae), and genus (Bacteroides, Clostridium, Methanosphaera, and Candidatus Soleaferrea) were significantly altered in the AVO group compared with the CTRL group. A trend to decrease in serum inflammatory factors IL-1β (P = 0.07) and C-reactive protein (P = 0.074) was observed in the AVO group compared with CTRL.

Conclusions

Daily Hass avocado consumption as part of a hypocaloric diet supported weight loss, a decrease in serum HGF, and an increase in the abundance of bacteria involved in plant polysaccharide fermentation. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02953158.

Details

Title
Hass Avocado Inclusion in a Weight-Loss Diet Supported Weight Loss and Altered Gut Microbiota: A 12-Week Randomized, Parallel-Controlled Trial
Author
Henning, Susanne M 1 ; Yang, Jieping 1 ; Shih Lung Woo 1 ; Ru-Po, Lee 1 ; Huang, Jianjun 1 ; Rasmusen, Anna 1 ; Carpenter, Catherine L 1 ; Thames, Gail 1 ; Gilbuena, Irene 1 ; Chi-Hong, Tseng 2 ; Heber, David 1 ; Li, Zhaoping 1 

 Department of Medicine, Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 
 Department of Statistics Core, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 
Publication year
2019
Publication date
Aug 2019
Publisher
Oxford University Press
e-ISSN
24752991
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3169498736
Copyright
Copyright © American Society for Nutrition 2019. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.