Summary:
This study was a randomised controlled trial that investigated whether eating one avocado per day for 26 weeks affected blood lipid levels and insulin resistance in adults with abdominal obesity. Abdominal obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, partly because excess visceral fat can contribute to inflammation, insulin resistance and unfavourable changes in blood lipids. Avocados contain monounsaturated fats, fiber, potassium, folate and phytosterols and have been associated with improvements in cholesterol levels. The study included 1,008 adults with abdominal obesity, with 786 participants included in the final analysis. Participants were randomly assigned to either eat one avocado daily or to continue their usual diet without additional avocado for 26 weeks. Blood samples collected before and after the intervention. After 26 weeks, participants who ate one avocado per day had a significantly greater reduction in total LDL compared with those following their usual diet. In relation to insulin resistance, the study found no significant benefit from eating one avocado per day for 26 weeks. Overall, this study found that adding one avocado to the daily diet for six months reduced the concentration of LDL particles in adults with abdominal obesity. This suggests that regular avocado consumption may have a beneficial effect on an aspect of cardiovascular risk.
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Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Avocado intake improves blood lipid profiles, but the effect on lipoprotein particles and subclasses is less clear. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the effect of consuming 1 avocado per day for 26 weeks on the change in lipoprotein particles and subclasses compared to a habitual diet without supplemental avocados in free-living adults with abdominal obesity. METHODS: This is an ancillary study of the Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial, a multicenter, parallel-arm, 26-week randomized controlled trial. The Avocado-supplemented Diet Group was provided with 1 avocado per day, and the Habitual Diet Group was instructed to follow their habitual diet. Fasting plasma samples collected at baseline and 26 weeks were analyzed for concentrations of lipoprotein particles and subclasses (exploratory outcomes) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Between-group differences in the 26-week change from baseline were evaluated using linear regression, with adjustment for study site. RESULTS: The analytical sample included 786 participants (74% female; aged 51 ± 14 years; body mass index 32.9 ± 5.4 kg/m2) with available data (Avocado-supplemented Diet Group: n = 389; Habitual Diet Group: n = 397). The Avocado-supplemented Diet Group had a reduction in total low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle concentration (mean difference: −49.1 nmol/L; 95% CI: −83.6, −14.5; P = .005) compared to the Habitual Diet Group. No between-group differences were observed for LDL particle size and subclasses, triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles, high-density lipoprotein particles, or apolipoproteins A or B. CONCLUSION: Incorporating 1 avocado per day into habitual diets for 26 weeks reduced the concentration of atherogenic LDL particles without affecting other lipoprotein particles and subclasses in adults with abdominal obesity.
Article Publication Date: 12/06/2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2026.06.005 External Link
