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Obesity is associated with early cardiovascular dysfunction and reduced muscle strength. Whole-body vibration (WBV) training may improve arterial function and muscle strength. The effects of WBV training on arterial stiffness (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, baPWV), wave reflection (augmentation index, AIx), brachial systolic blood pressure (bSBP), aortic systolic blood pressure (aSBP), heart rate variability, and muscle strength (one-repetition maximum, 1RM) were examined in 10 young (21 ± 2 year) overweight/obese women (body mass index, BMI¼29.9 ± 0.8 kg m -2 ). Participants were randomized to a 6-week WBV training or non-exercising control (CON) period in a crossover design. WBV training (3 daysÂweek) consisted of static and dynamic squats and calf raises with vibration intensity at 25-30 Hz and 1-2 mm amplitude (2.83-4.86 G). There were significant (Po0.05) decreases in baPWV (À0.9±0.3 m s -1 ), AIx (À8.0±2.2 %), bSBP (À5.3±1.5 mm Hg), aSBP (À5.2 ± 2.1 mm Hg), low-frequency power (À0.13 ± 0.05 nu) and sympathovagal balance (LF/HF, À0.42 ± 0.16) after WBV training compared with CON. Significant (Po0.05) increases in high-frequency power (HF, 0.19 ± 0.04 nu) and leg extension 1RM (8.2±2.3 kg) occurred after WBV training compared with CON. Six weeks of WBV training decreased systemic arterial stiffness and aSBP via improvements in wave reflection and sympathovagal balance in young overweight/obese normotensive women. WBV training may benefit arterial function and muscle strength in deconditioned individuals who cannot perform conventional exercise.

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A hypocaloric diet decreases baPWV mainly by reducing legPWV, and this reduction is related to the loss of truncal fat. Although LIRET alone does not affect PWV or body composition, LIRET combined with diet improves baPWV and muscle strength while preventing loss of lean body mass in obese postmenopausal women.

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Aside from existing drug therapies, certain lifestyle and nutritional factors are known to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Among the nutritional factors, dried plum or prunes (Prunus domestica L.) is the most effective fruit in both preventing and reversing bone loss. The objective of the present study was to examine the extent to which dried plum reverses bone loss in osteopenic postmenopausal women. We recruited 236 women, 1 -10 years postmenopausal, not on hormone replacement therapy or any other prescribed medication known to influence bone metabolism. Qualified participants (n 160) were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups: dried plum (100 g/d) or dried apple (comparative control). Participants received 500 mg Ca plus 400 IU (10 mg) vitamin D daily. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine, forearm, hip and whole body was assessed at baseline and at the end of the study using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months to assess bone biomarkers. Physical activity recall and 1-week FFQ were obtained at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months to examine physical activity and dietary confounders as potential covariates. Dried plum significantly increased BMD of ulna and spine in comparison with dried apple. In comparison with corresponding baseline values, only dried plum significantly decreased serum levels of bone turnover markers including bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b. The findings of the present study confirmed the ability of dried plum in improving BMD in postmenopausal women in part due to suppressing the rate of bone turnover. Key words: Osteoporosis: Dried plums: Clinical trialsOsteoporosis is a major public health problem in postmenopausal women. In the USA alone, eight million women have osteoporosis that results in more than one million fractures per year in women who are 45 years and older (1) . The cost of treating osteoporosis and its fractures has been estimated to be over $19 billion/year. Although there are a number of agents available for the treatment and/or prevention of osteoporosis, some patients have contraindications to using them or prefer alternative therapies including dietary supplements and functional foods (2) . Studies have consistently shown that a higher fruit and vegetable intake has positive effects on bone mineral density (BMD) (3 -7) . Muhlbauer et al. (8) examined the effects of a number of fruits and vegetables on bone resorption by assessing the urinary excretion of 3 H released from bone, and showed that dried plum (8) among fruits and onion among vegetables were the most effective functional foods with bone-modulating effects. To our knowledge, Muhlbauer et al. (8) were the first group who showed that prunes (dried plums) have the ability to prevent osteoporosis by inhibiting bone resorption. To follow up on Muhlbauer's findings, our laboratory conducted several animal studies and a 3-month clinical trial. The results of these studies showed that dried...

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