Dried Plum's Unique Ability to Prevent and Reverse Bone Loss in Ovarian Hormone Deficiency: Efficacy and Possible Mechanisms

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a chronic disorder associated with aging that is characterized by a loss of bone mass and quality leading to an increased risk of fragility fractures. Postmenopausal women are at the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis due to a cessation in ovarian hormone production, thus leading to accelerated bone loss. As the demographic shifts to a more aged population, a growing number of postmenopausal women will be afflicted with osteoporosis. A search for promising non‐pharmacological alternative therapies for osteoporosis is of prime importance as medications used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis can be associated with side effects and low compliance. Certain lifestyle factors, including nutrition, are known to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis and therefore play an important role in bone health. In terms of nutrition, dried plum (prune) has been shown to be one of the most efficacious interventions for preventing and reversing bone loss in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis as well as in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the efficacy of dried plum for preventing and reversing bone loss associated with ovarian hormone deficiency and to highlight possible mechanisms of action. We end with the results of a follow‐up study demonstrating that postmenopausal women taking dried plums during our one year clinical trial conducted five years earlier retained bone mineral density compared to the control. Overall, these findings suggest that dried plum is a promising functional food therapy for postmenopausal bone loss with the potential for a long‐lasting bone‐protective effect.Support or Funding InformationUSDA, California Dried Plum, Abbott Laboratories