New Research Looks Closer at Effects of a Moderate Fat Diet that Includes Eating Avocados Daily

04 Feb 2015 --- Results from a recent nutrition study led by Pennsylvania State University show that eating a moderate fat diet with fresh avocado may benefit cholesterol levels more than moderate fat or low fat diets without avocado.

Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the research found that healthy, overweight and obese men and women who followed a moderate fat diet that included one fresh avocado daily had significantly improved bad cholesterol to good cholesterol ratios compared to when eating a similar moderate fat or low fat diet without avocados. This scientific evidence adds to a growing body of research linking cholesterol levels with diet. Improving cholesterol levels may be important for U.S. Hispanics who struggle with cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in the community.

Elevated cholesterol in the blood can increase risk factors for cardiovascular disease. A heart healthy diet can play an important role in keeping cholesterol levels within a normal range. For example, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating more fruits and vegetables for many reasons including evidence suggesting consumption of at least 2 ½ cups of fruits and vegetables per day is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. In the Pennsylvania University study, researchers found that the avocado diet significantly improved the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL or "good" cholesterol as well as the ratio of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, to HDL-cholesterol. The moderate fat and low fat diets without avocado did not significantly improve these ratios.

"The results of this study suggest that the monounsaturated fat, fiber, phytosterols and other dietary bioactives in avocados may provide greater benefits to cardiovascular disease risk factors compared to a calorie matched low fat diet," said Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., RD, lead author of the study who is an expert in cardiovascular nutrition and Distinguished Professor at the Pennsylvania State University.

A possible explanation as to why the moderate fat diet with avocado had a more beneficial effect than the moderate fat diet without avocado is that the avocado diet provided 35 percent more fiber, which is associated with lower cholesterol levels.