The Effect of Daily Avocado Intake on Food and Nutrient Displacement in a Free-Living Population with Abdominal Obesity

Background

Avocado intake has been associated with improvements in diet quality. Whether this response is because of avocado intake, per se, or combined with a food and/or nutrient displacement (D) has yet to be determined.

Objectives

This secondary analysis, conducted using dietary data from the Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial, sought to assess the effect of consuming a large avocado (168 g, 281 kcal) daily in the avocado-supplemented diet (AD) group compared with the habitual diet (HD) group on food and nutrient D.

Methods

Using data from 3 unannounced telephone 24-h dietary recalls conducted during the 6-mo intervention period, food intake data were evaluated for 898 participants, aged 25–87 y, and a BMI range of 20.5–60.3 kg/m². The food group distribution, energy, and nutrient intake of the AD group (n = 436) were calculated and compared with those of the HD group (n = 462).

Results

The AD group had a higher daily intake of energy (159 ± 575 kcal) (P < 0.001), potassium (3193 ± 817 mg compared with 2419 ± 843 mg) (P < 0.005), fiber (30 ± 8 g compared with 19 ± 9 g) (P < 0.05), and a lower daily intake of animal protein (49 ± 33 g compared with 55 ± 24 g) (P = 0.02) compared with the HD group. Partial D with an avocado was observed for energy (43%), total fat (23%), and carbohydrate (87%), indicating a lower intake of these nutrients from non-avocado sources in the AD group. Food group analysis revealed a lower consumption of animal-derived protein from red meat, processed meats, poultry, and fish in the AD group, with no significant differences observed in dairy and egg intake between groups.

Conclusions

Incorporating 1 avocado daily led to favorable modifications in the dietary composition of participants, including an increase in potassium and fiber intake, which can improve diet quality.

This trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03528031.