(PO22-08-22) Avocado Consumption and Markers of Inflammation: Results From The Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

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Presenting Author(s)

Feon Cheng, PhD, MPH, RDN, CHTS-CP
– Nutrition Epidemiologist, Hass Avocado Board, MISSION VIEJO, California, United States

Co-Author(s)

Nikki A. Ford, PhD
– Director of Nutrition, Hass Avocado Board, mission viejo, California, United States
AW

Alexis C. Wood, PhD
– Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
RT

Russell Tracy
– University of Vermont

Disclosure(s):

Feon Cheng, PhD, MPH, RDN, CHTS-CP: Hass avocado Board: Employee (Ongoing)

Objectives: Since an association of avocado consumption has been linked to a possible reduction in inflammation, we investigated associations between avocado consumption and markers of inflammation in a population-based multi-ethnic cohort (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)).

Methods: A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at MESA exam 1 was used to capture avocado/guacamole consumption. To calculate daily servings of avocado/guacamole, we used both frequency and serving size data from the FFQ. We classified participants into three consumer groups: rare or never (daily serving ≤0.03; less than 1 per month), medium (0.03< daily serving < 0.082; ~1-2 per month), and heavy (0.082 ≤ daily serving; more than 2-3 per month). Inflammation was estimated by natural log-transformed inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-2, IL-6, homocysteine, fibrinogen, TNF-a soluble receptors). We used multivariate linear regression models to assess associations while accounting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational level, income, energy intake, smoking status, physical activity, diet quality, body mass index, and diabetes type.

Results: Among 2,183 MESA participants, the average age and BMI were 60.8y±10.2 and 28.3kg/m2±5.2, respectively, and 46% of the sample were men. Participants has self-reported Hispanic (40.7%), Caucasian (36.8%), African-American (15.5%), and Chinese (7%) ancestries. Over 60% had higher than a high school education and 41.7% make $50,000 or more a year. 44% were categorized as rare of never, 31% as medium, and 25% as heavy avocado/guacamole consumers. When adjusted for relevant confounders, there were no significant differences among the three consumer groups for any inflammatory marker.

Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study, we did not find that consumption of avocado/guacamole was associated with levels of inflammatory markers.

Funding Sources: Supported by contracts HHSN268201500003I, N01-HC-95159, N01-HC-95160, N01-HC-95161, N01-HC-95162, N01-HC-95163, N01-HC-95164, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC-95168 and N01-HC-95169 from NHLBI, and by grants UL1-TR-000040, UL1-TR-001079, and UL1-TR-001420 from NCATS. The authors thank the other MESA investigators, staff, and participants for their valuable contributions. https://www.mesa-nhlbi.org provides a list of MESA investigators and institutions.