Dried plum consumption improves bone mineral density in osteopenic postmenopausal woman: A case report

JOURNAL: Bone Reports 14 (2021) 101094

AUTHORS: Nicole C.A. Strock a, Kristen J. Koltun a, Connie Weaver b, Mary Jane De Souza a,

The use of non-pharmacological alternatives to pharmacological interventions, e.g., nutritional therapy, to improve or maintain bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women has gained traction over the past decade, but limited data exist regarding its efficacy. The purpose of this case report was to compare changes in BMD of an osteopenic postmenopausal woman over the course of 28 months, including an abrupt change in diet. For the first 12 months, a participant assigned to the control arm of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) only took calcium and vitamin D3 supplements, but in the following 16 months after completing the RCT, she introduced and maintained daily consumption of 50 g of dried plums in addition to calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. This case report provides a unique opportunity to follow the trajectory of distinct changes in bone in response to one dietary modification.