Guac & Grow: Early Avocado Exposure on Development and the Gut Microbiome in American Hispanic Infants
Arizona State University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if daily avocado intake can improve growth and brain and gut health in infants. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does daily eating of avocados change which microbes live in the infant's gut? Does daily avocado intake improve infant motor skills and cognitive development? Researchers will compare avocado intake to standard of care (no or limited avocado intake) to see if regular avocado intake from 6-12 months of life influences gut and brain health. Participating mothers/guardians and their infants will: Parents will provide avocado or no avocado to their infant every day for 6 months starting around 6 months of infant age. Parents will allow study staff to visit participant homes to collect data via surveys and observations and measure infant growth. Parents will swab soiled infant diapers for gut microbe measures. Parents will keep a diary of the infant's avocado consumption and acceptance of the food. Parents will record their infant's dietary intake
Description
The overarching goal of this two-arm, randomized clinical trial, is to study how early avocado exposure impacts the gut microbiome and developmental milestones in Hispanic infants. The following aims will be achieved using a randomized, parallel-arm, clinical trial. Specific Aim 1: Evaluate how avocado consumption modulates the infant GM. Hypothesis 1: Daily avocado exposure will produce distinct structural and functional signatures within the GM compared to control. Specific Aim 2: Investigate how avocado consumption affects emerging motor and neurocognitive skills in infants. Hypothesis 2…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 0–0 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * 4-6-month-old Hispanic/Latine, non-preterm (\>37 weeks gestation) singleton infants * Infants born to mothers 18 years and older while pregnant * Parents speak English and/or Spanish * Families willing to begin feeding infants avocado around 6 months of age or when the infant is ready for solids for a total of 6 months * Family history of food or latex allergies will be evaluated as avocado is a latex fruit and can cause allergic responses. If either mom or dad is allergic to avocado, physician clearance for infant participation will be needed. * At least one caregiver i…
Interventions
- OtherDaily avocado
Infants in the daily avocado group will receive a daily exposure amount of avocado ranging from 1/4 (\~37.5 g or 1.25 oz) to 1/2 (\~75 g or 2.5 oz) of a medium-sized avocado. At 6-8 months, infants will be provided 1/4 (\~37.5 g or 1.25 oz) of a medium-sized avocado for daily consumption. Then from 9-12 months, they will begin receiving 1/2 (\~75 g or 2.5 oz) of a medium-sized avocado for daily consumption.
Location
- College of Health SolutionsPhoenix, Arizona