Evidence supporting the use of: Avocado
For the body system: Joints
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Avocado is used to support joint health primarily based on scientific evidence, particularly regarding its extract, avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU). Several clinical studies have investigated ASU for osteoarthritis, especially of the hip and knee. Research suggests that ASU can reduce symptoms such as pain and stiffness and may decrease the need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The mechanism is thought to involve anti-inflammatory effects, modulation of cartilage metabolism, and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
For example, a meta-analysis published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (2014) found moderate evidence that ASU improves symptoms of osteoarthritis. Another double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that ASU slowed joint space narrowing in patients with hip osteoarthritis over a three-year period (Arthritis Research & Therapy, 2013). However, the benefits are associated with the unsaponifiable fraction—compounds extracted from avocado and soybean oils—rather than consuming avocado fruit alone. There is little evidence that eating avocado as a whole fruit has a significant direct effect on joint health.
In summary, scientific evidence supports the use of avocado-derived unsaponifiables for joint health, especially in the context of osteoarthritis. The effect size is moderate, and the evidence is primarily for standardized extracts rather than dietary avocado. Thus, avocado’s use for joint support is justified by scientific data, though it is not a cure and works best as part of a broader management strategy.
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Achyranthes
Alfalfa
Algae
algal oil
amino acids
Amor seco
anamu
anemarrhena asphodeloides
animal protein
animal Tissue
antler
Aralia
arnica
ashitaba
Asteraceae
avian cartilage
avocado
ba ji tian
babchi
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
balsam
Barleria
barrenwort
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
bee products
bee venom
Bergenia
berry
beta caryophyllene
Bidens pilosa
Biopeptide
birch
bishop\'s weed
black cumin
black currant
black galingale
black ginger
black gram
black poplar
black seed
Black willow
bladderwrack
Boerhavia diffusa
bogbean
Bombax
bone
bone protein
boneset
borage
borage oil
boron
Boswellia
Boswellic Acid
bovine
bovine cartilage / glycosaminoglycan
bovine protein
broccoli
bromelain
Bryonia
bugbane
burdock
Butea monosperma
cabbage leaf
calamari oil
Calanus finmarchicus
camphor oil
Campsiandra angustifolia
cannabidiol
capsaicin
capsicum
Carthamus
cartilage
caryophyllene
cat's claw
cayenne pepper
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
Cetylated Fatty Acids
chaff flower
chebulinic acid
cherry
chickweed
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
chondroitin
chuchuhuasi
Cinnamomum
cinquefoil
Cissus quadrangularis
Cissus sicyoides
clematis
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
cod liver oil
coix
collagen
comfrey
commiphora
copaiba oil
coriander
cowslip
Curculigo orchioides
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
currant
cuspidatum root
Cyathula
Cymbopogon martini
deer root
deer velvet
devil's claw
devil\'s club
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
dioscorea
Dipsacus
dog rose
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
Drynaria
Dwarf Nettle
Ecklonia
egg
eicosapentaenoic acid
elephant vine
elk antler
emu oil
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
escin
eucommia
Eucommia ulmoides
European five-finger grass
evening primrose oil
evening primrose oil
fang-feng
fat liver oil
fatty acids
figwort
fir
fish
fish oil
fish protein
flavonoids
flavonols
flaxseed
Flemingia philippinensis
flowering quince
frankincense
fructoborate
gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
ganoderma
garden cress
gastrodia
Gentiana macrophylla
ginger
glucosamine
Glycine
Glycosaminoglycans
Gnaphalium
gokhru
Golden Willow
gooseberry
gotu kola
gravel root
green-lipped mussel
Guaiac
Guazuma ulmifolia
guggul
Guggulsterones
hairy arnica
Harpagoside
heal-all
Heartsease
Hedychium spicatum
henna
herbal blend (proprietary)
horse gram
horsetail
hyaluronic acid
hydroxyproline
Hygrophila
Immortelle
Indian coraltree
Indian frankincense
Indian nightshade
Indian sarsparilla
Indian tinospora
Iporuru
iridoids
Japanese kadsura
Job\'s tears
joe-pye
juniper berries
Kigelia africana
knotgrass
knotweed
Kokilaksha
krill oil
L-proline
Ledebouriella
Ligusticum
Lithothamnion
little ironweed
Loranthus
manganese
mangiferin
Marine fat
Marine lipid
Marine protein
Marjoram
Marking Nut Tree
Marsh Tea
Meadowsweet
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microcrystalline hydroxyapatite concentrate (MCHC)
Milk
Millettia
Mineral ascorbate
Morinda
Moringa
Mucopolysaccharide
mustard seed
Myrrh
N-acetyl-glucosamine
Nettle
Nigella seed
Nimbidin
noni
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
omega-6 fatty acids
Oroxylum indicum
Osthole
Oxindole alkaloids
paederia foetida
paeoniflorin
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Pansit-pansitan
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
peony
Peptides
Petiveria
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Phlomis umbrosa
Physalis angulata
phytocannabinoids
pine bark
pineapple
plantain
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Polygonatum
Polygonum
polyphenols
polyunsaturated fat
poplar
Portulaca
Premna
prepared aconite tuber
prickly ash
protein
proteoglycans
proteolytic enzymes
Puerarin
punarnava
Pycnogenol
Qin Jiao
queen of the meadow
quercetin
red clover
Rehmannia
rehmannia glutinosa
rhizome
Rhododendron
Rhus coraria
Rhus coriaria
rockweed
rose hips
rosmarinic acid
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubus
rue
Salicin
Salmon Oil
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
Sanicle
Sargassum
Sargentodoxa
sarsaparilla
Sassafras
Schizochytrium Oil
scrophularia root
seaweed
Semecarpus anacardium
serratiopeptidase
sesame
Shikonin
Shilajit
Sichuan Lovage
Sida cordifolia
Siegesbeckia
siler root
silica
silicon
Silkmoth
Sinomenium acutum
Skunkvine
Smartweed
smilax
solomon's seal
Spanish Needle
Spatholobus
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Spiraea
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sweet Bay
Szechuan lovage
Tasmannia lanceolata
Taxillus chinensis
Taxillus sutchuenensis
Tayuya
Tea
teasel
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Thymoquinone
Tinospora cordifolia
Triphala
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turmeric
Turmerones
Tynanthus panurensis
Uncaria
Uraria picta
Vegetable Protein
vitamin C
vitamin D
Vladimiria souliei
White Poplar
white willow
Wild yam
Willow
Willow Bracket
Wintergreen
Withanolides
Wrightia tinctoria
Yucca
zanthoxylum
Zedoary