Daily avocado to slow cellular aging in breast cancer survivors

Effect of Daily Avocado Consumption on Cellular Aging in Female Breast Cancer Survivors: The ACCA Study

This trial will test whether eating one avocado a day can slow cellular aging (measured by telomere length) in women who completed treatment for stage I–III breast cancer.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Ages: 40 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: Institut Investigacio Sanitaria Pere Virgili (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Reus, Tarragona)
• Trial ID: NCT07097155 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial will assign eligible breast cancer survivors to eat one avocado per day or continue their habitual diet (fewer than two avocados per week) for the intervention period. The primary outcome is change in leukocyte telomere length, with secondary outcomes including telomerase activity, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, cardiovascular risk markers, anthropometrics, mood, quality of life, fatigue, and diet quality. Participants are women aged 40–65 who finished radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy 6 months to 10 years prior and currently consume fewer than two avocados per week. The trial is run at the Unit for Public Health and Nutritional Epidemiology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Reus, Tarragona.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Women aged 40–65 with primary stage I–III breast cancer who completed treatment 6 months to 10 years ago and currently eat fewer than two avocados per week.

Not a fit: Patients with metastatic disease, cancer recurrence, other active cancers, severe immunodeficiency, or those allergic or unwilling to eat avocados would not be expected to benefit or may be ineligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, daily avocado consumption could slow biological aging and potentially reduce long-term comorbidity risk in breast cancer survivors.

How similar studies have performed: There is limited and mostly observational evidence linking monounsaturated-rich foods and better telomere maintenance, so the specific effect of daily avocado consumption remains relatively untested in randomized trials.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Women diagnosed with primary breast cancer in stages I, II or III;
* 40-65 years old at screening;
* Cancer treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) completed ≥ 6 months but not more than 10 years at the time of recruitment;
* Currently consuming less than 2 avocados per week;
* Signed the informed consent letter.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Metastasis;
* Ductal carcinoma or lobular carcinoma in situ;
* Breast cancer recurrence;
* Cancer diagnosis other than breast cancer or non-melanoma skin cancer;
* Body mass index ≥40kg/m2;
* Currently pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy in the following 6 months;
* Allergy to latex;
* Unwilling to consume avocado;
* Immunodeficiency or HIV-positive status;
* Alcohol abuse (\>50g/day);
* Unstable use of plant sterols, mineral supplements, use of fibre supplements, fish oil, or antioxidants in the 4 weeks prior to enrolment, or plans to change this during the study;
* Currently participating in any other randomized controlled trial;
* Difficulty or impossibility of an adequate follow-up;
* Inability or unwillingness to give written informed consent or to communicate with study personnel, or illiteracy;
* Patients with an acute infection or inflammation (e.g., pneumonia) will be allowed to participate in the study 3 months after recovery.

Where this trial is running

Reus, Tarragona

• Unit for Public Health and Nutritional Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili — Reus, Tarragona, Spain (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Nerea Becerra Tomás, PhD

Conditions Telomere Length; Breast Cancer Females; Avocado consumption; Telomere length; Breast Cancer