by A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition suggests that consuming avocados may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The World Health Organization estimates that over 10% of the global adult population is affected by type 2 diabetes, with the number projected to increase by 46% by 2045.
The study, conducted by researchers, aimed to investigate the association between avocado consumption and diabetes risk. Previous research has highlighted the potential benefits of avocados in aiding glucose homeostasis due to their high fiber and monounsaturated fatty acid content. However, individual responses to dietary components can vary, making metabolomic studies crucial in understanding the mechanisms behind nutrient absorption and digestion.
The study evaluated data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), which included 6,814 adults aged 45-84 years and collected dietary information using the MESA FFQ questionnaire. Metabolomic examinations were conducted to determine the impact of habitual avocado intake on fasting glucose and insulin levels, which are indicators of diabetes risk.
After excluding participants with avocado allergies and missing dysglycemia data, 3,438 individuals were included in the analysis. The study found modest associations between self-reported avocado consumption and fasting insulin levels. However, these associations were not statistically significant when accounting for body mass index (BMI). On the other hand, three specific metabolomic features strongly correlated with lower fasting glucose and insulin levels. These features were combined to create an avocado biomarker that showed a significant association with reduced type 2 diabetes risk.
The findings also revealed differences in the associations between participants with dysglycemia (abnormal blood glucose levels) and those with normoglycemia (normal blood glucose levels). Participants with dysglycemia showed stronger associations with reduced glucose and insulin levels and lower diabetes risk.
These results suggest that the beneficial effects of avocado consumption on diabetes risk may be influenced by individual factors such as gut microbiome differences. Further research is needed to better understand these mechanisms and to confirm the findings.
Overall, this study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential role of avocados in preventing or managing type 2 diabetes. Including avocados as part of a healthy diet may have significant benefits in reducing the risk of this prevalent and debilitating disease.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
