MedPath

Persea Americana for Total Health (PATH)-2

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Overweight and Obesity
Interventions
Other: Avocado
Other: Oil + Fiber
Other: Average American Diet
Registration Number
NCT05941728
Lead Sponsor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effects of avocado consumption on gastrointestinal health in adults with overweight and obesity. The main questions is aims to answer are:

How does avocado consumption affect the gut microbiome? How does avocado consumption affect thinking? Are there connections between the microbiome and cognition? Participants will be asked to eat provided meals with and without avocados for three 4-week periods. At the end of each 4-week period, participants will be asked to provide stool samples and complete computer games that assess thinking and memory.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
45
Inclusion Criteria
  • Participants must be between the ages of 25 and 74 years old
  • BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2
  • Ability to drop off fecal sample within 15 minutes of defecation
  • 20/20 or corrected vision
Exclusion Criteria
  • Avocado allergy or intolerance
  • Food allergies or intolerances
  • Prior diagnosis of liver or gastrointestinal disease (primary biliary cirrhosis or gallbladder disease, chronic constipation, diarrhea, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, stomach or duodenal ulcers), diabetes, hepatitis, HIV, or cancer
  • Women that are pregnant, have given birth in the previous 12 months or are lactating
  • Individuals that smoke, use tobacco, abuse drugs, or consume > 2 alcoholic beverages per day.
  • > 5% weight change in the past month or > 10% change in the past six months
  • Oral antibiotics during the previous 6 weeks.
  • Currently taking lipid-lowering medications, oral hypoglycemic agents, or insulin.
  • History of malabsorptive or restrictive bariatric surgeries (e.g., gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric band) or gall bladder removal surgery.
  • Are unable to consume the experimental meals/snacks.
  • Allergic to latex
  • Concurrent enrollment in another dietary, exercise, or medication study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
AvocadoAvocadoThe experimental treatment will contain an avocado. Avocados will be consumed daily for 4 weeks.
Fiber + OilOil + FiberThe active comparator will have a snack that mimics the fiber and fatty acid composition found in avocados and will be consumed daily for 4 weeks.
Standard American DietAverage American DietThe sham comparator contains foods and beverages of a standard American diet and will be consumed daily for 4 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Concentration of fecal bile acids4 weeks

Fecal bile acid concentrations using HPLC in avocado and active comparator vs. control,

Fecal microbial genes4 weeks

Microbial genes involved in short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acid synthesis measured using metagenomic sequencing

Fecal microbial species4 weeks

Feacalibacterium spp., bacteria capable of producing SCFA and secondary bile acid synthesis measured using metagenomic sequencing

Concentration of fecal SCFA4 weeks

Fecal SCFA concentrations using GC-MS in avocado and active comparator vs. control,

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cognitive function4 weeks

Neuropshycological function as measured by a clinical cognitive task battery.

Subjective gastrointestinal tolerance via questionnaire4 week

Ratings of gastrointestinal symptoms (ease of stool passage, frequency of stools, abdominal pain, bloating, burping, flatulence, nausea, reflux, rumblings assessed using questionnaires

Digestive health using stool records/Bristol Stool Scale4 week

Ratings of stool consistency using Bristol Stool Scale

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

🇺🇸

Urbana, Illinois, United States

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