Effects of an Avocado Based meDiterranean Diet on Serum Lipids for Secondary Prevention After Ischemic StrokE Trial. Study Protocol.

Recent global burden of disease analysis of DALYs, showed that dietary risk have the highest DALYs in ischemic stroke among behavioral risk factors. The MediDiet is associated with a decreased risk of total mortality as well as stroke incidence and mortality. Although not part of the classical Mediterranean diet they are another nutrient-dense source of MUFA, rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytosterols and polyphenols extensively consumed in the Americas. Avocado-substituted diets significantly decrease cholesterol levels in diabetic and obese patients. Secondary stroke prevention studies with diet as an intervention are lacking and there is little information of what patients eat before or after an ischemic stroke. Lowering Low Density Cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreases stroke recurrence. The aim is to determine the effect of a Mediterranean style diet based on Avocados on lipid profile particularly LDL-C in patients who have had an ischemic stroke and are at high recurrence risk.Methodology: Academic, open-label, blinded outcome assessment (PROBE design), clinical trial. Participants will be patients with an acute ischemic stroke admitted to Clínica Alemana de Santiago, who fulfills the eligibility criteria. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to either diet intervention in a 1:1 ratio. The interventions will be: A) Avocado based Mediterranean diet with intake of ½ portion of a Hass avocado per day and B) Standard recommendation of low fat-high complex carbohydrate diet recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program and the American Heart Association. The main efficacy outcome will be the level of plasma LDL-C level at 3 months of the dietary intervention. Secondary outcomes will be changes in: Levels of serum lipid profile, serum inflammation markers, glycemic control, anthropomorphic measures, stroke recurrence, cardiovascular events, adverse events, compliance. A sample size of 100 patients per group (200 in total) was estimated to prov