Avocado Consumption, Abdominal Adiposity, and Oral Glucose Tolerance Among Persons with Overweight and Obesity

Naiman A Khan; Caitlyn G Edwards; Sharon V Thompson; Bridget A Hannon; Sarah K Burke; Anne D M Walk; Richard W A Mackenzie; Ginger E Reeser; Barbara H Fiese; Nicholas A Burd; Hannah D Holscher

doi:10.1093/jn/nxab187

Avocado Consumption, Abdominal Adiposity, and Oral Glucose Tolerance Among Persons with Overweight and Obesity

J Nutr. 2021 Sep 4;151(9):2513-2521. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxab187.

Authors

Naiman A Khan^{1

2}, Caitlyn G Edwards², Sharon V Thompson², Bridget A Hannon², Sarah K Burke³, Anne D M Walk⁴, Richard W A Mackenzie⁵, Ginger E Reeser¹, Barbara H Fiese^{6

7}, Nicholas A Burd^{1

2}, Hannah D Holscher^{1

2

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
² Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
³ Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gaineville, FL, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, USA.
⁵ Department of Life Science, Whitelands College, University of Roehampton, London, UK.
⁶ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
⁷ Family Resiliency Center, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
⁸ Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.

Abstract

Background: Although intake of Hass avocado has been cross-sectionally linked to lower abdominal obesity, knowledge of the effects of avocado consumption on abdominal adiposity and glycemic outcomes remains limited.

Objective: The effects of avocado consumption on abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, oral-glucose-tolerance test (OGTT), and estimated β-cell function were evaluated.

Methods: A total of 105 adults aged 25-45 y (61% female) with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to an intervention (N = 53) that received a daily meal with 1 fresh Hass avocado or a control (N = 52) that received an isocaloric meal with similar ingredients without avocado for 12 wk. DXA was used to assess the primary outcomes of abdominal adiposity [visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT), and the ratio of VAT to SAAT (VS Ratio)]. Fasted glucose and insulin were used to assess the primary outcomes of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index) and β-cell function (Insulinogenic index) were estimated using an OGTT. Changes between groups were compared using an ANCOVA. Secondary analyses were conducted based on sex.

Results: The control group exhibited a greater reduction in SAAT [-54.5 ± 155.8 g (control) compared with 17.4 ± 155.1 g (treatment), P = 0.017] and increase in VS Ratio [0.007 ± 0.047 (control) compared with -0.011 ± 0.044 (treatment), P = 0.024]. Among females, the treatment group exhibited a greater reduction in VAT [1.6 ± 89.8 g (control) compared with -32.9 ± 81.6 g (treatment), P = 0.021] and VS Ratio [0.01 ± 0.05 (control) compared with -0.01 ± 0.03 (treatment), P = 0.001]. Among males, there was no significant difference between groups in changes in abdominal adiposity or glycemic outcomes.

Conclusions: Daily consumption of 1 fresh Hass avocado changed abdominal adiposity distribution among females but did not facilitate improvements in peripheral insulin sensitivity or β-cell function among adults with overweight and obesity.This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02740439.

Keywords: abdominal adiposity; fiber; insulin; monounsaturated fatty acids; obesity.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adiposity
Body Mass Index
Female
Glucose Tolerance Test
Humans
Insulin Resistance*
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Male
Obesity
Obesity, Abdominal
Overweight
Persea*

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02740439