Dried Plums (prunes) Reduce Atherosclerosis Lesion Area in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

JOURNAL: British Journal of Nutrition2009;101 (2):233-239.

AUTHORS: Gallaher, C.M. and Gallaher, D.D

The apoE-deficient mouse, which develops atherosclerotic lesions rapidly when fed cholesterol, was used to determine the ability of dried plums at different dose levels to reduce atherosclerosis.  Arterial trees were dissected, stained to visualize lesions, and lesion area was quantitated by imaging software. Percentage arterial tree atherosclerotic lesion area was significantly lower in the low dose dried plum diet with a trend in difference with the higher dried plum diet.  These results suggest that consuming dried plums may help slow the development of atherosclerosis. The study also reported on other measures of oxidative stress and inflammation.