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Encore Abstract Poster Session 1

(EA01-16-25) A Prospective Cohort Study of the Impact of Maternal Avocado Consumption During Pregnancy on Offspring Allergic Diseases: The Kuopio Birth Cohort (KuBiCo) Study

Saturday, May 31, 2025
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board D-53

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Nikki A. Ford, PhD

    Senior Director of Nutrition
    Avocado Nutrition Center
    Mission Viejo, California, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • FC

    Feon W. Cheng

    Avocado Nutrition Center, United States

  • EB

    Ella Bauer

    Avocado Nutrition Center, United States

  • KB

    Katri Backman

    Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

  • RV

    Raimo Voutilainen

    Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

  • MP

    Markku Pasanen

    School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

  • LK

    Leea Keski-Nisula

    Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

  • SH

    Sari Hantunen

    Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

Disclosure(s):
Nikki A. Ford, PhD: Hass avocado Board: Employee (Ongoing)
Scientific conference where the work was recently presented: Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)

Date on which the work was previously presented at the scientific conference listed: October 8, 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to explore how maternal avocado consumption during pregnancy relates to offspring allergic health outcomes using the Kuopio Birth Cohort (KuBiCo) Study.

Methods: This prospective cohort study used data from KuBiCo. Avocado consumption was assessed using an online food frequency questionnaire in trimesters (T) 1 and 3. Avocado consumers were defined as participants who reported consuming any avocado ( >0 grams) in T1 and/or 3, and avocado non-consumers were defined as those who didn’t report consuming any avocado (0 grams) in both T1 and 3. The 12-month follow-up questionnaire captured offspring allergic outcomes (rhinitis, paroxysmal wheezing, atopic eczema, and food allergy).

Results: Of 4,647 participants, 2,272 met the criteria and were included in the analysis. The mean maternal age at delivery was 31.3, and over half of the participants were married. Compared to avocado non-consumer (during pregnancy), avocado consumer (during pregnancy) had 56.4% the odds (or 43.6% lower odds) of having food allergy among their children at the 12-month follow-up questionnaire while adjusted for relevant covariates. No significant associations were noted in the other three allergic health outcomes.

Conclusions: Avocado consumption during pregnancy was associated with lower odds of their children developing food allergies at 12 months, even when accounting for potential covariates.

Funding Sources: This work was supported by the Research Committee of the Kuopio University Hospital Catchment Area for the State Research Funding, the Pediatric Research Foundation, University of Eastern Finland and National Institute of Health and Welfare.