Participants needed for Avocado study

Participants needed for a diet study examining the effects of avocados on the levels of fat in your blood. They are looking for healthy, non-smoking adults aged 21-70 years of age who are not taking cholesterol lowering medication. Subjects will be provided with all food and drinks for 17 weeks at the completion of the study will receive lab results and monetary compensation. If you are interested in learning more about the study, please call toll free 1 866-PSU-DIET(1-866-778-3438) or email psudiet@gmail.com, mention the Avocado Study and leave your name and a contact number. This study is being conducted by Penny Kirs-Etherton, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at Penn State University, and her research team.

This is a clinical research study to examine effects of avocado consumption (by incorporating 1 unite of fruit per day to a healthy diet) on multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This new study may provide important information about the health effects of avocados in the diet and how avocados, which contain a healthy type of fat, might impact risk factors for developing heart disease. Diets for each of the three intervention groups will be heart healthy cholesterol lowering diets matched for saturated fat (≤ 7%). The diet containing avocados will have a moderate amount of fat (~ 34%) mainly as unsaturated fat from the inclusion of the avocados; the moderate fat diet will have the same fatty acid profile as the avocado diet but will not contain avocados; the low fat diet will contain ~24% of calories from fat. Prior to starting the intervention diets you will be asked to complete a two week run-in on an average American diet. Calorie levels will be estimated for weight maintenance, this is not a weight loss study therefore calories will be adjusted as needed to ensure that you do not lose or gain weight over the course of the study. All intervention diets contain foods that are commonly found at a grocery store. If you agree to participate in the study you will agree to eat only those foods (3 meals and a snack every day) and beverages provided to you (some non-caloric beverages are allowed for three choice) during the feeding periods of the study. You are supposed to eat only the food given to you and nothing else.

Study Dates, Times and Location

Study Available by Appointment?: Yes
Location: State College, PA
Approximate Participant Study Length: 21 Weeks

The participation will last for 21 weeks total consisting of a 2-week period followed by three, 5-week diet periods. The order of 3 treatment diets will be randomly assigned (low fat, moderate fat for moderate fat with avocado). A 2 week break will be allotted between diet periods to reduce the monotony of a controlled feeding study and encourage continued compliance when feeding resumes. Blood samples will be collected 8 times throughout the 21-week study on two consecutive days at the end of each diet period (including the run-in diet).

Compensation: $200

Contact Information

Li Wang or Marcella Smith
866-778-3438
psudiet@gmail.com

This study has been approved by a Penn State Institutional Review Board (IRB). IRB Approval Number 34628