Avocado Consumption linked to Reduced Diabetes Risk in new study

"Avocado consumption was associated with a lower diabetes risk, which remained significant even when adjusted for relevant covariates," the researchers wrote in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "However, this finding was observed only in women, not men, underscoring the importance of personalized nutrition in diabetes care and prevention."

Avocado is a nutrient-rich fruit native to Mexico that has long been celebrated for its numerous health benefits. The fruit has several minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals, which can contribute to reducing the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, limited studies have examined the association between avocados and diabetes risk.

To fill this knowledge gap, Feon W. Cheng, Avocado Nutrition Center, Mission Viejo CA, and colleagues aimed to examine the association between avocado consumption and diabetes by sex in Mexican adults in a cross-sectional study.

Participants were a subsample of adults from the 2012, 2016, and 2018 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT). Avocado consumption was evaluated using a seven-day, semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Participants were classified as avocado consumers (consuming any amount of avocado) or non-consumers.

Participants were considered to have diabetes if they answered "yes" to "Has a doctor ever told that you have diabetes or high blood sugar?"

The following were the key findings of the study:

• Of 28,239 ENSANUT 2012, 2016, and 2018 participants, 25,640 met the criteria (i.e., have diabetes outcome and plausible energy and avocado intakes) for the study.
• Over half of the participants were women, and approximately 45% were avocado consumers, with an average avocado consumption of 34.7 among men and 29.8 grams/day among women.
• Avocado consumers had lower odds of diabetes in both unadjusted (OR: 0.762) and adjusted (OR: 0.792) models among women but not men (OR: 1.192 and OR: 0.914 for both unadjusted and adjusted models, respectively).

The study findings significantly impact public health initiatives for combating diabetes in Mexico and beyond. Encouraging the consumption of avocados as a dietary strategy could offer a simple and affordable approach to improving the health outcomes of millions of individuals at risk of diabetes.

As researchers continue to unravel the intricacies of diet-disease relationships, the humble avocado stands out as a potential ally in the fight against diabetes, offering hope for a healthier future.

Reference:

Cheng FW, Rodríguez-Ramírez S, Shamah-Levy T, Pérez-Tepayo S, Ford NA, Association between avocado consumption and diabetes in Mexican adults: Results from the 2012, 2016, and 2018 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Surveys, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2024), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.012.