Hass Avocado Inclusion in a Weight-Loss Diet Supported Weight Loss and Altered Gut Microbiota: A 12-Week Randomized, Parallel-Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effect of daily avocado consumption as part of a hypocaloric diet on weight loss, body composition, satiety, inflammation biomarkers, and intestinal microbiota composition.
Results Summary
Both groups experienced significant weight loss and reductions in BMI, body fat, and visceral adipose tissue, with no significant differences between groups. The avocado group showed changes in serum HGF and gut microbiota composition, along with trends in reduced inflammatory markers.
Population
51 healthy overweight/obese women and men.
Effective Dosage
1 Hass avocado daily.
Duration
12 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | decrease | weight | healthy overweight/obese women and men | -2.3 ± 2 kg | experienced significant weight loss | #1 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | decrease | BMI | healthy overweight/obese women and men | -0.8 ± 0.8 | decrease | #2 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | decrease | total body fat | healthy overweight/obese women and men | -1.1% ± 2% | decrease | #3 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | decrease | visceral adipose tissue | healthy overweight/obese women and men | -81.2 ± 118 g | decrease | #4 |
hypocaloric diet without daily avocado | decrease | weight | healthy overweight/obese women and men | -2.6 ± 3.6 kg | experienced significant weight loss | #5 |
hypocaloric diet without daily avocado | decrease | BMI | healthy overweight/obese women and men | -0.9 ± 1 | decrease | #6 |
hypocaloric diet without daily avocado | decrease | total body fat | healthy overweight/obese women and men | -1.5% ± 2% | decrease | #7 |
hypocaloric diet without daily avocado | decrease | visceral adipose tissue | healthy overweight/obese women and men | -87.4 ± 216 g | decrease | #8 |
hypocaloric diet without daily avocado | decrease | serum glucose | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | significant decrease | #9 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | no change | serum triglyceride | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | no change | #10 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | decrease | serum triglyceride | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | significant decrease from baseline to 12 wk | #11 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | decrease | serum hepatic growth factor (HGF) | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | significantly altered | #12 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | neutral | relative proportion of bacterial phyla (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | significantly altered | #13 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | neutral | relative proportion of bacterial family (Bacteroidaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae) | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | significantly altered | #14 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | neutral | relative proportion of bacterial genus (Bacteroides, Clostridium, Methanosphaera, and Candidatus Soleaferrea) | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | significantly altered | #15 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | decrease | serum inflammatory factors IL-1β | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | trend to decrease | #16 |
hypocaloric diet with 1 Hass avocado daily | decrease | C-reactive protein | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | trend to decrease | #17 |
Daily Hass avocado consumption as part of a hypocaloric diet | decrease | weight | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | supported weight loss | #18 |
Daily Hass avocado consumption as part of a hypocaloric diet | decrease | serum HGF | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | decrease | #19 |
Daily Hass avocado consumption as part of a hypocaloric diet | increase | abundance of bacteria involved in plant polysaccharide fermentation | healthy overweight/obese women and men | - | increase | #20 |
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.