The Effect of Avocado on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Factors
Cardiovascular Disease, Hyperlipidemia
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Cardiovascular Disease focused on measuring cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, reverse cholesterol transport
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- healthy non-smoking
- overweight (BMI 25-35 kg/m2) men and women
- LDL-C between the25-90th percentile from NHANES: 105-194mg/dL for males; 98-190mg/dL for females)
Exclusion Criteria:
- BP >140/90 mmHg;
- A history of myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, kidney disease, and thyroid disease (unless controlled on medication);
- Lactation, pregnancy, or desire to become pregnant during the study;
- Cholesterol-lowering medication use;
- Intake of putative cholesterol-lowering supplements (psyllium, fish oil capsules, soy lecithin, niacin, fiber, flax, and phytoestrogens, stanol/sterol supplemented foods);
- Vegetarianism;
- Nut allergies (Other food allergies were reviewed on a case-by-case basis);
- Refusal to discontinue nutritional supplements, herbs or vitamins
Sites / Locations
- Penn State University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Experimental
Lower-Fat Diet
Moderate Fat Diet
Avocado Diet
The Lower-Fat diet will provide ~24% of calories from fat and meet the SFA and cholesterol recommendations of a Step-II diet recommended by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Association's National Cholesterol Education Program. SFA will provide 7% of calories, and cholesterol will be less than 200mg/day. Vegetables and fruits in the Lower-Fat diet will be selected from foods that are low in antioxidants.
This diet is designed to be the control diet for the avocado diet and will have an identical fatty acid profile. MUFA-enriched food (fats) will be substituted for avocado. The substitution foods will not contain antioxidant or cholesterol-lowering components similar to those in avocado.
The avocado diet will be designed to ensure that all subjects incorporate 1 avocado (~136g) per day into a moderate fat diet. Both the Lower-Fat diet and avocado diet will be matched for SFA and dietary cholesterol, but will differ in total fat, primarily MUFA as provided by the avocado. The moderate fat plus avocado diet will provide 34% of calories from total fat, 18% calories from MUFA, and 9% calories from PUFA.