Impact of Avocado Consumption on Breastfeeding and Infant Brain Development
Official title: An Avocado Intervention to Increase the Nutrients in Human Milk in Support of Infant Cognitive Development
Run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · NCT06208085 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if eating five avocados a week can improve the nutrients in breast milk and help babies' brain development during breastfeeding.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 88 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kannapolis, North Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 8, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | April 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06208085 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are healthy lactating women who are 13 weeks postpartum and planning to exclusively breastfeed for six months.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have gestational diabetes, infants with developmental delays, or those with allergies to avocados, latex, or bananas may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study aims to explore the effects of avocado consumption on the nutrient composition of human milk and its potential benefits for infant cognitive development. Eighty-eight breastfeeding dyads, consisting of healthy lactating women and their infants, will participate by consuming five avocados per week for 12 weeks. The study will assess compliance, analyze the presence of key nutrients in breast milk, and evaluate cognitive outcomes in infants at 4.5 and 6 months of age. The research focuses on the synergistic effects of nutrients found in avocados, such as choline and lutein, on brain development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of how specific nutrients from whole foods like avocados can support optimal brain development in infants.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of using avocados as a whole food supplement is novel, previous studies have indicated potential cognitive benefits from nutrient-rich diets during breastfeeding.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria * Healthy lactating women at 13 weeks postpartum * Planning to exclusively breastfeed to 6 months of age * Gave birth at 38 weeks or greater gestation without remarkable incident * Pre-pregnancy BMI \<30 Exclusion Criteria * Gestational diabetes * Infant with diagnosis or documented suspicion of developmental delay * Any documented seizure activity in infant * Family history of avocado, latex, or banana allergies
Where it's running
-
Nutrition Research Institute
Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Carol L Cheatham, Ph.D. — University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Carol L Cheatham, Ph.D.
- Email: carol_cheatham@unc.edu
- Phone: 704-250-5010
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.