Innovative Nutrition Strategies for Aging and Chronic Disease Prevention: From Target Interventions to Population Health (Oral Session 22)

(OR22-03-25) Effect of Incorporating One Avocado per Day Versus Habitual Diet on Lipoprotein Particle Concentration: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

10:24 AM – 10:36 AM ET

Location: S220 E-G

Presenting Author(s)

Janhavi J. Damani, MS, PhD (she/her/hers)

Postdoctoral Researcher
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

Penny M. Kris-Etherton, PhD (she/her/hers)

Evan Pugh University Professor of Nutritional Sciences
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
AL

Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc (she/her/hers)

Gershoff Professor of Nutrition Science and Policy Director, Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory and Senior Scientist
JM USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Nirupa R. Matthan, PhD (she/her/hers)

Scientist 1/Associate Professor
Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Zhaoping Li, PhD, MD (she/her/hers)

Professor
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
Joan Sabate, MD Dr.PH

Professor of Nutrition
Loma Linda University School of Public Health
Loma Linda, California, United States
DR

David M. Reboussin, PhD

Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
KP

Kristina S. Petersen, PhD, APD

Assistant Research Professor
Penn State
University Park, Pennsylvania, United States

Objectives: Avocado intake improves lipid/lipoprotein profiles; however, the effects on lipoprotein subfractions are less known. The aim was to examine the effect of daily avocado intake for 26 weeks on the change in lipoprotein particle concentrations compared to a habitual diet without supplemental avocados in US adults with abdominal obesity.

Methods: The Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (HAT) was a multi-center randomized controlled trial including adults aged ≥25 years with elevated waist circumference (males ≥40 inches; females ≥35 inches). The Avocado Supplemented Diet (AVO) Group was provided with one avocado per day to incorporate into their habitual diet. The Habitual Diet (HD) Group was instructed to follow their usual diet and limit their avocado intake to < 2 avocados per month. Fasting plasma samples collected at baseline and 26 weeks were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure concentrations of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLP; very small: 24-29 nm; small 30-36 nm; medium: 37-49 nm; large: 50-89 nm; very large: 90-240 nm), LDL (small: 19-20.4 nm; medium: 20.5-21.4 nm; large: 21.5-23 nm), HDL (small, medium, large), and apolipoproteins A and B. This ancillary analysis evaluated the between-group difference in the 26-week change from baseline in lipoprotein particle concentrations using general linear models with adjustment for study site. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess heterogeneity in intervention effects across sex, race, ethnicity, age, and baseline BMI.

Results: The analytical sample included 786 participants (AVO: n=389; HD: n=397) with available data (female 74%; age 51±14 years; BMI 32.9±5.4 kg/m²). The AVO Group had a reduction in total LDL particle concentration (mean difference: −49.10 nmol/L; 95% CI −83.66, −14.54) compared to the HD Group; no between-group differences in LDL subfractions were observed. No intervention effect heterogeneity was observed for total LDL particle concentration by sex, race, ethnicity, age, or BMI. No between-group differences were observed for TRLP, HDL, apolipoproteins A or B.

Conclusions: Daily intake of one avocado for 26 weeks reduced the concentration of atherogenic LDL particles in adults with abdominal obesity.

Funding Sources: Avocado Nutrition Center