Effect of a Moderate Fat Diet With and Without Avocados on Lipoprotein Particle Number, Size and Subclasses in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Abstract

BackgroundAvocados are a nutrient‐dense source of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) that can be used to replace saturated fatty acids (SFA) in a diet to lower low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C). Well‐controlled studies are lacking on the effect of avocado consumption on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.Methods and ResultsA randomized, crossover, controlled feeding trial was conducted with 45 overweight or obese participants with baseline LDL‐C in the 25th to 90th percentile. Three cholesterol‐lowering diets (6% to 7% SFA) were fed (5 weeks each): a lower‐fat diet (LF: 24% fat); 2 moderate‐fat diets (34% fat) provided similar foods and were matched for macronutrients and fatty acids: the avocado diet (AV) included one fresh Hass avocado (136 g) per day, and the moderate‐fat diet (MF) mainly used high oleic acid oils to match the fatty acid content of one avocado. Compared with baseline, the reduction in LDL‐C and non‐high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol on the AV diet (−13.5 mg/dL, −14.6 mg/dL) was greater (P<0.05) than the MF (−8.3 mg/dL, −8.7 mg/dL) and LF (−7.4 mg/dL, −4.8 mg/dL) diets. Furthermore, only the AV diet significantly decreased LDL particle number (LDL‐P, −80.1 nmol/L, P=0.0001), small dense LDL cholesterol (LDL3+4, −4.1 mg/dL, P=0.04), and the ratio of LDL/HDL (−6.6%, P<0.0001) from baseline.ConclusionsInclusion of one avocado per day as part of a moderate‐fat, cholesterol‐lowering diet has additional LDL‐C, LDL‐P, and non‐HDL‐C lowering effects, especially for small, dense LDL. Our results demonstrate that avocados have beneficial effects on cardio‐metabolic risk factors that extend beyond their heart‐healthy fatty acid profile.Clinical Trial RegistrationURL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01235832.

Inhibitory Activity of Avocado Seed Fatty Acid Derivatives (Acetogenins) Against Listeria Monocytogenes

“…Based on concentrations of acetogenins in avocado pulp (Table ), to reach these toxic levels a 70 kg person would need to ingest 8.9 to 14.8 kg of avocado pulp in one sitting, assuming that the only possibly toxic acetogenin is Persin ( 7 ), or 1.4 to 2.3 kg of avocado pulp in one sitting assuming that all acetogenins exhibit similar toxicity as persin. These amounts are substantially higher (109 to 10 times) than the daily‐recommended intake of one Hass avocado per day (0.136 kg/d) and, thus, highly improbable (Wang and others ). In addition, MIC values (7.8 to 15.6 mg/L) observed in this study to control L. monocytogenes are 3.8 to 12.8 times lower than the reported persin toxicity (60 to 100 ppm).…”

Avocado and Cardiovascular Health

“…Avocado has low sugar content (0.2 g in a half unity). D-mannoheptulose is the main kind of sugar found in the fruit but is seems do not have nutritional properties, appearing to be one more phytochemical component of the avocado [9]. The aqueous extract from the avocad's seeds has hypoglycemic agents, which act protecting against toxicity and oxidative stress [14]- [16].…”

“…The AV diet group showed higher reduction of LDL and non-HDL cholesterol when compared to the other diets, and had reduced values of total LDL-cholesterol particles (LDL-P −80.1 nmol/l, p = 0.0001), subclasses of LDL-cholesterol (LDL 3+4 -4.1 mg/dl, p = 0.04) and LDL/HDL ratio (−6.6%, p < 0.0001). AV and MF diets reduced apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB) levels and the relationship between ApoB/ApoA-I decreased in AV diet group, without weight changes [35].…”

“…The avocado consumption has been related to benefits on some cardiovascular risk factors [5] [9], as well as to the improvement of the dietary quality and nutrient intake by increasing the consumption of MUFA, dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamins E and K [10]. Recent researches have shown that avocado can improve hypercholesterolemia and be useful in the treatment of hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).…”

The beneficial effects of nutraceuticals and natural products on small dense LDL levels, LDL particle number and LDL particle size: a clinical review

“…Results showed that LDL particle number and small dense LDL cholesterol number were significantly lower following the AV diet compared with baseline. LDL particle size was reduced in all diets, but compared with the LF diet the AV diet led to a significant rise in LDL particle size [76]. In a controlled, 3-arm, crossover study, 31 overweight or obese subjects with a fasting glucose that ranged 5.0-6.4 mmol/L were randomized to either Half-Avocado group who received 68 g/d fresh avocado or Whole-Avocado contained 136 g avocado per day or control group (without any avocado).…”