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TORONTO, July 29, 2022 /CNW/ – More than a simple snack, prunes have achieved superfood status due to their known benefits on bone, digestive, and cardiovascular health. Now, two new studies add further evidence to confirm the positive role that prunes have on overall health.
The Prune Studypublished in the July 2022 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutritionis a 12-month randomized controlled trial that looked at California Prunes, bone density, and bone structure in postmenopausal women aged 55-75 years. It’s the most comprehensive investigation of a dose-response relationship of prune consumption on bone health, immune function , inflammation, and cardiovascular health to-date.1 The California Prune Board provided funding support.
For the study, researchers randomized 235 women into either a control group (no prune consumption), 50 g prune per day (about 5 prunes), or 100 g prune per day (about 10 prunes). The researchers found that total hip bone mineral density decreased in the control group, while the 50 g prune group preserved bone mineral density. They concluded that 50 g of prunes daily can prevent the loss of total hip bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, and that the effect persists for 12 months.
This study builds on a previous comprehensive review of 24 studies on prunes and bone health which showed that prunes enhance bone formation and exert beneficial effects on bone mineral density.2 The bone health benefits of prunes are likely due to their unique combination of bone-building nutrients including vitamin K, boron, manganese, and potassium.
