Women aged 50 and older might want to consider adding prunes to their diets to mitigate bone loss. Or at least, that's the hypothesis that researchers are testing out, according to a new paper from a group of Pennsylvania State University researchers, published in Advances in Nutrition.
Sixteen preclinical studies using genetically modified rodents suggested that prunes were associated with prevention and reversal of bone loss. Ten of those studies indicated that prune consumption may help suppress certain inflammation markers and increase antioxidant expression. Researchers believe this effect is due at least in part to the polyphenol antioxidants found in prunes and plums.
Two clinical trials in postmenopausal women who ate between 50 and 100 grams of prunes each day for up to a year have also shown promising effects on bone mineral density and bone biomarkers. But the results are preliminary, and more investigation into the exact effect of prunes on oxidative stress and inflammation is needed.
The studies are part of a new wave of research into nutritional interventions to ward off osteoporosis, according to Sci News. According to the National Library of Medicine, the disease is most common in older women, who may not even know they have it until they experience a fracture. To preserve bone density and ward off fractures, postmenopausal women are urged to not smoke, eat diets rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise and avoid falls. And it couldn't hurt to throw in a few prunes, too.
