A daily dose of avocado might improve cardiovascular risk factors Original paper

In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, a diet containing avocado improved some cardiovascular disease risk factors compared to diets that did not contain avocado.

The effect of avocado consumption on cardiovascular disease risk factors.

The outcomes assessed were total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, fasting glucose, and blood pressure.

A total of 1,359 participants (average age of 50; approximately 50% men and 50% in the studies that reported gender).

A meta-analysis of 7 randomized controlled trials was performed. The daily dose of avocado was one Hass avocado in 4 studies, 200 grams in 1 study, 200–500 grams in 1 study, and 1 study had the participants consume a diet enriched in avocado (30% of total energy intake from fat, 75% of which was derived from avocado). The intervention duration ranged from 2 weeks to 6 months. The control groups consumed diets that did not contain avocado.

The researchers conducted two analyses for each outcome, depending on whether the control group consumed a low-fat diet or their habitual diet.

Avocado-containing diets decreased levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C, irrespective of the type of comparator diet. Avocado-containing diets also increased levels of HDL-C and decreased blood pressure when compared to a low-fat diet and decreased HDL when compared to a typical diet.