Avocado may help lower diabetes risk in women, finds study

Avocados, rich in nutrients and increasingly popular, have been associated with metabolic health benefits. Understanding how individual foods like avocados impact diabetes risk is essential, especially considering the influence of biological sex on diabetes pathogenesis. The study examined the link between avocado consumption and diabetes risk in both males and females, recognising the global rise in diabetes rates and the potential of dietary modifications to mitigate risk.

The study analysed data from 25,640 participants aged ≥20 years, with approximately 59% female. Most participants were overweight or obese, with over 60% having abdominal obesity. Diabetes was defined as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5% or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 126 mg/dL. Various covariates, including body mass index (BMI), abdominal obesity, physical activity, healthy eating index score, energy intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, and acute myocardial infarction, were considered in the analysis. Additionally, a subset of participants underwent a sensitivity analysis using laboratory data.

The results showed that of the participants from the three surveys, about 45% were avocado consumers, with an average daily consumption of 34.7 grams for men and 29.8 grams for women. Avocado consumption was found to be associated with lower odds of diabetes among women but not among men.

These findings highlight the potential protective role of avocado consumption against diabetes. Furthermore, researchers also found that compared to those who did not consume avocados, avocado-consuming women showed a lower risk of diabetes, while no significant association was observed among men.

Reference: Association between avocado consumption and diabetes in Mexican adults: Results from the 2012, 2016, and 2018 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Surveys. Cheng, F. W. et al., Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2024), DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2024.04.012, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212267224001928