The meeting of the American Society for Nutrition June 8-11, Baltimore, MD
Research findings from five California Prune Board supported projects (through funding or providing product) were presented during Nutrition 2019 “Where the best in science and health meet.” Approximately 1,600 presentations of original research included hot topics on microbiome research (“You are what your microbes eat”), personalized nutrition (wearable technology), and nutrition and the aging brain (dietary patterns).
Brenda Smith, PhD, Oklahoma State University, poster described the “Contribution of Carbohydrates and Polyphenols to Dried Plum’s Prebiotic Activity” which investigated the contribution of these components on weight gain, body composition and effects on the gut. Although the prebiotic effects differed, both the carbohydrate and polyphenol components contributed to prunes’ ability to lessen weight gain and reverse bone loss in a hormone deficient animal model.
Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, Pennsylvania State University (in collaboration with the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council) poster “Dried Fruit and Vascular Health: A Randomized Crossover Trial” described the effect of consuming ¾ cup/day of mixed dried fruits (prunes, raisins, dates, figs) compared to a calorie- and carbohydrate-matched snack on vascular health in adults at risk for cardiometabolic disease. Although eating the mixture of dried fruits for 4 weeks did not affect systolic blood pressure or measures of arterial stiffness compared to the carbohydrate-matched snack, the researchers are conducting subset analysis for further insight.