The Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (HAT): A Collaborative Multicenter Model for Large-Scale, Privately Funded...

The research model used to conduct the Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (HAT), a large multicenter clinical trial (n = 1008 participants) designed to evaluate the effect of consuming 1 avocado/d for 6 mo on visceral adiposity in individuals with an increased waist circumference, has been a long-term productive collaboration. The primary outcome analysis showed that intake of 1 avocado/d did not affect visceral adiposity compared with habitual dietary intake. Secondary and ancillary analyses showed improvements in diet quality, LDL cholesterol, and red blood cell fatty acid composition, as well as the gut microbiome with avocado intake. These findings are relevant to a large proportion of the United States population because of the study sample characteristics. The aim of this paper is to summarize the research protocol and implementation of the HAT as well as the findings. This approach could be used by consortia supported by nongovernmental entities. Notably, there is still ongoing research being conducted by the investigators using the data collected from the HAT. Moreover, HAT samples and data are available, pending an approved request, to scientists interested in conducting avocado health research. The collaborative commitment of the investigators, their collegial spirit, along with strong leadership and ongoing support from the coordinating center and funding agency representatives, has created a productive research consortium. This consortium has furthered knowledge about the health effects of avocados, and the approach has maximized the return on the research investment from a single large clinical trial.