Dried Plum Consumption Improves Antioxidant Capacity and Reduces Inflammation in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and menopause significantly raises risk in women. Abnormal blood lipids, inflammation and oxidative stress play significant roles in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease development. Dried plums contain bioactive components that have demonstrated antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects and therefore may be beneficial in reducing CVD risk. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dried plum consumption on lipid profiles, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity and inflammation in postmenopausal women. Another goal was to determine if a moderate dose of 50 g/day is equally effective to a high dose (100 g/day). A 6‐month controlled clinical trial was conducted in which 48 postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to consume 0, 50 or 100 g of dried plum each day. Serum lipid profiles, antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory biomarkers and liver function enzyme activities were analyzed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of intervention. No significant differences in outcome variables were detected between the 50 g and 100 g dried plum groups at any time point, so data from the two dried plum groups were combined. At 3 and 6 months, total cholesterol (p=0.037), lipid peroxidation (p=0.031) and interleukin‐6 (p=0.046) were significantly lower in the combined dried plum group compared to the control group. Total antioxidant capacity (p=0.036), superoxide dismutase (p=0.038) and catalase (p=0.05) activities were significantly greater after dried plum consumption at 3 and 6 months compared to the control group. Additionally, serum levels of the liver function enzymes alanine transaminase (p=0.001), alkaline phosphatase (p=0.001), lactate dehydrogenase (p=0.038) and creatine kinase (p=0.044) were significantly lower at 3 and 6 months in the dried plum groups than the control group. These findings indicate that consumption of 50–100 g of dried plum per day improves CVD risk factors in postmenopausal women as exhibited by lower total cholesterol, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers.Support or Funding InformationThe study was funded by San Diego State University, the Kasch‐Boyer Endowed Scholarship in Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, and the California Dried Plum Board.