Prunes Preserve Hip Bone Mineral Density in a 12-Month Randomized Controlled Trial in Postmenopausal Women: The Prune Study

JOURNAL: J Nutr. 2024 Mar 13:S0022-3166(24)00161-5

AUTHORS: Mary Jane De Souza, Nicole C.A. Strock, Nancy I. Williams, Hang Lee, Kristen J. Koltun, Connie Rogers, Mario G Ferruzzi, Cindy H. Nakatsu, Connie Weaver

Dietary consumption of prunes has favorable impacts on bone health, but more research is necessary to improve upon study designs and refine our understandings. This study concluded a 50-g daily dose of prunes can prevent loss of total hip BMD in postmenopausal women after 6 months, which persisted for 12 months.

Given that there was high compliance and retention at the 50-g dosage over 12 months, authors propose that the 50 dose represents a valuable nonpharmacologic treatment strategy that can be used to preserve hip BMD in postmenopausal women and possibly reduce hip fracture risk.