Background: Avocados are high in antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids. They’ve been shown to lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), including oxidized LDL-C. So is eating one avocado a day a good idea?
The study: In this crossover trial, 45 overweight or obese adults with elevated LDL-C adhered to three 5-week diets in a random order: a low-fat diet, a moderate-fat diet with one Hass avocado daily, and a moderate-fat diet with high-oleic-acid oils that matched the fatty-acid profile of an avocado. Oxidized LDL-C and markers of oxidative stress were measured at the beginning and end of each diet.
The results: Unlike the two other diets, the avocado diet decreased oxidized LDL-C and increased lutein. The reduction in oxidized LDL-C was correlated to a reduction in sdLDL-C (small, dense LDL-C). The results suggest that avocados’ health benefits aren’t due solely to their fatty-acid composition.
Note: Avocados’ benefits may be due to their vitamins, carotenoids, and phytosterols as well as to their healthy fats.