Studying How Eating Avocados During Breastfeeding Affects Nutrients in Milk and Babys Brain Development

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether eating avocados by breastfeeding mothers can provide important nutrients in human milk that support brain development in their infants. This interventional study involves healthy lactating women around 13 weeks postpartum and their infants. The goal is to see if mothers will consume five avocados a week for 12 weeks and to measure the presence of choline, lutein, and fatty acids in their milk. The study also aims to assess cognitive benefits in infants whose mothers eat avocados compared to those who do not. Mothers will be randomly assigned to either an avocado group, where they consume one avocado daily for 12 weeks, or a comparison group with no avocado intervention. Participants will visit the lab three times over six months at enrollment around 3 months postpartum, 4.5 months, and 6 months. Milk samples will be collected biweekly and picked up from participants, with the avocado group receiving new avocados at each pickup. Mothers will also provide diet information during these visits. Infants will undergo cognitive tests including a recognition memory test at 6 months and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 4.5 months. Mothers will complete temperament questionnaires at 3 and 6 months. Saliva samples will be collected, and researchers will monitor changes in choline, lutein, and fatty acid levels in milk. The study will track adherence to avocado consumption and measure infant cognitive development over the six-month period.

Avocado Consumption, Nutrients in Human Milk, and Infant Cognitive Development