New Research Supporting Prunes as Food-Based Intervention for Bone Health Explained

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Aug 15, 2022, 13:05 ET

Novel study on long-term prune consumption finds promising prune benefits for bone health in postmenopausal women.

YUBA CITY, Calif., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prunes' beneficial impact on bone health has become apparent in recent years through multiple research studies. Now, in a newly published study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers have found that eating 5-6 prunes a day over twelve months preserved bone hip mineral density and reduced hip fracture risk in postmenopausal women.

Bone loss is prevalent among postmenopausal women and with bone loss, comes an increased risk of fractures.¹ Protecting against these two negative outcomes is critical to preserve quality of life for this population. Researchers identified consuming 5-6 prunes each day as an effective food-based intervention to do just that. This is the most robust study to date surrounding the positive impact of prunes on bone health in postmenopausal women.

"What's exciting is that this study confirms our previous study findings² at San Diego State University. These new results confirm what we demonstrated in 2016² that eating 5-6 prunes a day is an achievable and effective target to improve bone health for postmenopausal women," says Shirin Hooshmand, PhD, RD, Professor of Nutrition at San Diego State University and Sunsweet Growers partner who studies bone health but is not associated with this specific research.

A variety of nutrients can be found in prunes that work synergistically to protect the bone such as fiber, vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, boron, copper, and polyphenols.^{3, 4}

"Prunes are such a great snack on their own, and there are so many other ways to get 5-6 per day in delicious ways," says registered dietitian and Sunsweet Growers partner, Erin Palinski-Wade.

Here are 6 ways Palinski-Wade loves to recommend enjoying prunes:

Prunes are a great salad topper. This Colorful Salad with Prunes, Feta and Orange Dressing is prefect for any meal.
Think your classic PB&J, but with the benefits of prunes! Prunes are a great addition to incorporate into sandwiches.
Mix up rice by adding prunes!
Adding prunes to sauces and marinades can boost flavor and the nutrition of everyday dishes.
Blend prune juice in this Breakfast Prune Smoothie for a delicious start to your day.
Prune purée adds moisture and richness to a variety of baked goods like these Oatmeal & Prune Muffins with Blueberries.

For more information on prunes and bone health, visit https://www.sunsweet.com/products/benefits-of-prunes.

About Sunsweet

Sunsweet Growers Inc., established in 1917, has over 100 years of experience and heritage in producing the highest quality dried fruits. The Yuba City, Calif.-based cooperative of 200+ grower/members is the worldwide leader in prunes and related products. Most recently, the product portfolio has been expanded to include a full line of dried fruit snacks and juices, all designed to fit today's need for healthy and convenient food choices. For more on Sunsweet products, visit www.Sunsweet.com.

¹ https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/menopause-and-bone-loss

²Hooshmand et al. Osteoporosis International. The effect of two doses of dried plum on bone density and bone biomarkers in osteopenic postmenopausal women: a randomized, controlled trial. Osteoporosis International. 2016 Jul;27(7):2271-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-016-3524-8

³Arjmandi, et al. Nutrients. Bone-Protective Effects of Dried Plum in Postmenopausal Women: Efficacy and Possible Mechanisms. 2017, 9, 496; doi:10.3390/nu9050496.

⁴Hooshmand et al. Dried plum, an emerging functional food that may effectively improve bone health. Ageing Research Reviews. 2009 Apr 1;8(2):122-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2009.01.002

SOURCE Sunsweet Growers Inc.