Hass avocado composition and potential health effects.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing nutritional composition and preliminary trials without systematic methodology
PubMed 23638933 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.556759
What was done
The authors reviewed the nutrient and phytochemical composition of Hass avocados based on NHANES average consumption data and summarized findings from preliminary clinical and exploratory studies on cardiovascular health, weight management, and healthy aging.
What was found
Based on an average serving of one-half avocado (68 g, 114 kcal), reported composition is: 4.6 g dietary fiber, 0.2 g total sugar, 6.7 g monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 345 mg potassium, 5.5 mg sodium, 19.5 mg magnesium, 43 μg vitamin A, 6.0 mg vitamin C, 1.3 mg vitamin E, 14 μg vitamin K1, 60 mg folate (as stated in abstract), 0.2 mg vitamin B-6, 1.3 mg niacin, 1.0 mg pantothenic acid, 0.1 mg riboflavin, 10 mg choline, 185 μg lutein/zeaxanthin, and 57 mg phytosterols. Avocado oil fatty acid distribution is 71% MUFA, 13% PUFA, and 16% SFA. The abstract notes eight preliminary clinical studies showing support for cardiovascular health, but provides no quantitative effect sizes, sample sizes, or statistical results for any clinical outcomes.
Why it matters
This review compiles specific nutritional values for average serving sizes of Hass avocado and highlights potential mechanistic pathways for lipid regulation and nutrient bioavailability.
Limits
This is a narrative review rather than a systematic review. The abstract provides no quantitative data, control groups, or sample sizes for the eight referenced clinical studies, and evidence for weight management and healthy aging is described only as exploratory.
Cited by
- supports Salmon contains approximately 400 milligrams of potassium per six ounces, and avocados contain between 500 and 900 milligrams of potassium each.