Avocado Consumption for Exclusive Breastfeeding

Overseen By Carol L Cheatham, Ph.D.

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Disqualifiers: Gestational diabetes, Infant developmental delay, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 12 weeks

88 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if eating avocados can boost nutrients in breast milk that aid babies' brain development. It will track whether mothers can consistently eat five avocados a week and how this affects the nutrients in their milk. The study will compare babies' cognitive abilities between mothers who eat avocados and those who do not. Healthy mothers, 13 weeks postpartum, who are exclusively breastfeeding and had a full-term birth without complications, may be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the nutritional benefits of avocados for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is there any evidence suggesting that consuming avocados is safe for breastfeeding mothers and their infants?

Research has shown that avocados are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. They are rich in important nutrients like folate and potassium, which benefit health. Studies have found that avocados contain vitamins such as B-6 and folate, which support both mothers and babies.

Research into the safety of avocado pulp indicates that the compounds in avocados have very few negative effects on the body. Thus, eating avocados is generally safe and unlikely to cause harm.

Overall, avocados are not only safe but also provide important nutrients that support both mothers and their babies during breastfeeding. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores the potential benefits of incorporating avocados into the diet of breastfeeding mothers. Unlike standard nutritional recommendations for breastfeeding, which typically focus on balanced diets without specific emphasis on particular foods, this trial investigates whether daily avocado consumption can enhance breastfeeding outcomes. Avocados are rich in healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, which may offer unique nutritional benefits to support both mother and baby. This approach could provide a simple, natural way to boost nutritional intake during breastfeeding, setting it apart from typical dietary guidelines.

What evidence suggests that avocado consumption might be an effective treatment for supporting optimal brain development in infants?

Research has shown that avocados are rich in essential nutrients like folate (a type of B vitamin) and potassium, which benefit pregnant and breastfeeding women. Studies have found that consuming avocados can enhance the nutrient quality of breast milk, potentially increasing levels of choline and lutein. These nutrients are crucial for a baby's brain development. In this trial, participants in the avocado group will eat an avocado daily for 12 weeks to assess these potential benefits. Early findings suggest that babies whose mothers consume avocados while breastfeeding might gain a cognitive advantage. Additionally, avocados are safe and can help fulfill the dietary needs of both mothers and babies. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Carol L Cheatham, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy breastfeeding women who are 13 weeks postpartum and their infants. Participants will be asked to eat an avocado a day for 12 weeks. The study aims to see if avocados in the mother's diet can improve nutrients in breast milk and benefit infant brain development.

Inclusion Criteria

Planning to exclusively breastfeed to 6 months of age

Healthy lactating women at 13 weeks postpartum

Gave birth at 38 weeks or greater gestation without remarkable incident

Exclusion Criteria

Family history of avocado, latex, or banana allergies

Gestational diabetes

My infant has had seizures.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomized to consume 5 avocados a week for 12 weeks or no avocados. Milk samples and diet data are collected bi-weekly.

12 weeks

Bi-weekly visits for milk sample collection and avocado supply

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive development outcomes in infants, including recognition memory and Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

6 weeks

3 visits (in-person) at 3, 4.5, and 6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Avocado

Trial Overview

The study tests whether eating five avocados per week affects the levels of choline, lutein, and fatty acids in human milk, which are important for infant brain development. It also looks at potential cognitive benefits for infants whose mothers consume avocados.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Avocado Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be provided avocados and asked to consume an avocado a day for 12 weeks.

Group II: No Avocado Active Control 1 Intervention

Comparison arm in which no intervention occurs.

Avocado is already approved in Canada, United States for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as Avocado for:

• None specifically approved; however, components like Avocatin B are under investigation for diabetes management

Approved in United States as Avocado for:

• None specifically approved; however, components like Avocatin B are under investigation for diabetes management

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,588

Recruited

4,364,000+

Avocado Nutrition Center

Collaborator

Trials

4

Recruited

560+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In Mexico, a significant 57% of lactating women were found to have vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which is concerning given the high prevalence of VAD in infants aged 0-2 years.

Infants in both urban and agricultural areas are not receiving adequate vitamin A from breast milk, covering only 66% and 49% of their dietary needs, highlighting the need for improved nutrition and weaning practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

'Dose-to-Mother' Deuterium Oxide Dilution Technique: An Accurate Strategy to Measure Vitamin A Intake in Breastfed Infants. Lopez-Teros, V., Limon-Miro, AT., Astiazaran-Garcia, H., et al.[2018]

A meta-analysis of 65 studies involving 2474 women found that the average concentration of DHA in human breast milk is 0.32%, which is lower and more variable than the average concentration of AA at 0.47%.

The study highlights that DHA concentrations in breast milk are influenced by factors such as diet, particularly marine food consumption, and that there is a significant but low correlation between DHA and AA levels, indicating variability in the DHA to AA ratio across different populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid concentrations in human breast milk worldwide. Brenna, JT., Varamini, B., Jensen, RG., et al.[2023]

The study found that lactating mothers in Hong Kong had low vitamin A intake and breastmilk retinol levels, indicating a potential deficiency despite their higher socioeconomic status, based on an analysis of 87 mothers' diets.

Higher maternal carotenoid intake was linked to increased levels of carotenoids in breastmilk, particularly lutein, suggesting that consuming more dark green vegetables can enhance both carotenoid and vitamin A content in breastmilk, which is important for infant development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Carotenoids and Vitamin A in Breastmilk of Hong Kong Lactating Mothers and Their Relationships with Maternal Diet. Lu, Z., Chan, YT., Lo, KK., et al.[2023]

A study of 121 healthy lactating Chinese mothers found that different dietary fatty acid patterns significantly influenced the fatty acid compositions in both maternal serum and breast milk, particularly affecting levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).

Mothers with dietary patterns rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) showed better postpartum recovery, and their infants had improved growth metrics, indicating that maternal diet can have important implications for both maternal health and infant development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Association between dietary fatty acid patterns based on principal component analysis and fatty acid compositions of serum and breast milk in lactating mothers in Nanjing, China. Ding, Y., Yang, Y., Xu, F., et al.[2022]

Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, are crucial for brain and retina development, and their intake during pregnancy and early life can positively influence growth and cognitive performance in children.

Breastfeeding is recommended for up to 2 years to ensure adequate intake of essential fats, and while increasing DHA through fish consumption or fortification is effective, more research is needed to confirm the benefits of omega-3 supplementation in undernourished children aged 6-24 months.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Essential fats: how do they affect growth and development of infants and young children in developing countries? A literature review. Huffman, SL., Harika, RK., Eilander, A., et al.[2023]

Maternal nutrition significantly impacts fertility, fetal development, and long-term health of offspring, making it crucial for pregnant and lactating women to consume nutrient-rich foods.

Avocados stand out as a unique source of essential nutrients like folate and potassium, as well as beneficial compounds such as fiber and monounsaturated fats, which can enhance maternal health and improve birth outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Role of Avocados in Maternal Diets during the Periconceptional Period, Pregnancy, and Lactation. Comerford, KB., Ayoob, KT., Murray, RD., et al.[2019]

Beta-carotene supplementation in lactating mothers significantly increased their serum and milk beta-carotene levels, with increases of ninefold and sevenfold, respectively, after just three days of supplementation.

Importantly, this supplementation led to a significant increase in infant serum retinol levels, indicating that breast milk beta-carotene can effectively provide vitamin A for nursing infants, although maternal retinol levels did not change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-term beta-carotene supplementation of lactating mothers consuming diets low in vitamin A. Canfield, LM., Taren, DL., Kaminsky, RG., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 18 mother-infant pairs over six months of exclusive breastfeeding, it was found that the intake of specific fatty acids (FAs) from human milk, such as C15:0 and C18:2, positively correlated with infant growth, emphasizing the importance of these nutrients for development.

The research highlighted significant variations in the fatty acid composition of human milk across different mothers and throughout the lactation period, suggesting that individual maternal characteristics can influence the nutritional quality of breast milk and, consequently, infant health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Fatty Acid Species and Quantity Consumed by the Breastfed Infant Are Important for Growth and Development. George, AD., Gay, MCL., Wlodek, ME., et al.[2021]

DHA supplementation in breastfeeding mothers significantly increases the DHA content in both breast milk and maternal plasma, with increases ranging from 23% to 41% depending on the source of DHA (algae, eggs, or marine oil).

Infants of mothers who received DHA supplementation also showed increased DHA levels in their plasma phospholipids, with increases of 11% to 42%, indicating that maternal DHA intake positively impacts infant DHA status.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation of lactating women on the fatty acid composition of breast milk lipids and maternal and infant plasma phospholipids. Jensen, CL., Maude, M., Anderson, RE., et al.[2018]

Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients, particularly lipids, which are crucial for infant energy and development, including important fatty acids that support cognitive and visual growth.

Maternal diet significantly influences the quality of lipids in breast milk, and high intake of trans fatty acids can negatively affect the synthesis of beneficial long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, highlighting the need for awareness about healthy fat consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[The importance of essential fatty acids and the effect of trans fatty acids in human milk on fetal and neonatal development]. Tinoco, SM., Sichieri, R., Moura, AS., et al.[2019]

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