Using the Avocado as an Evening Snack to Investigate Whole Food Matrix and Macronutrient Composition on Morning Metabolic Indices in Adults With Prediabetes.

BACKGROUND

Evening snacks are consumed by most people. Prior research suggests that macronutrient composition influences next morning metabolic responses and beneficial effects are imparted by low glycemic index foods and/or those that contain fermentable fibers. Avocados are a complex matrix of healthy fats and fibers with low glycemic value. Prediabetes is an early stage of impaired glucose and insulin responses, and a critical period for dietary strategies to improve metabolic health.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess evening snack macronutrient composition and whole food (avocado) matrix on morning metabolic indices in adults with prediabetes.

METHODS

Participants ( = 55; age: 44 ± 14 years; BMI: 28 ± 6 kg/m) were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 energy-matched (280 kcal) snack interventions in a crossover design: control (low fat, low fiber); avocado, whole (high fat, high fiber); and matrix control (high-fat, high-fiber combined ingredients). Snacks were consumed on 3 separate evenings at the same time (±1 h), followed by 12-h fast and blood collections before and after (3 h) a standard breakfast (720 kcal). Data were analyzed by repeated-measure analysis of variance using the mixed procedure.

RESULTS

Fasting and postprandial glycemic and inflammatory markers were not different after snack interventions ( > 0.05). After the avocado snack, fasting triglycerides tended to be lower ( = 0.09), and a snack-by-time interaction ( = 0.02) revealed significantly lower triglyceride concentrations at 3 h.

CONCLUSIONS

Snacking on avocados in the evening may have important effects on triglyceride metabolism.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05263011.