Bone-Protective Effects of Dried Plum in Postmenopausal Women: Efficacy and Possible Mechanisms

Abstract

Osteoporosis is an age-related chronic disease characterized by a loss of bone mass and quality, and is associated with an increased risk of fragility fractures. Postmenopausal women are at the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis due to the cessation in ovarian hormone production, which causes accelerated bone loss. As the demographic shifts to a more aged population, a growing number of postmenopausal women will be afflicted with osteoporosis. Certain lifestyle factors, including nutrition and exercise, are known to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis and therefore play an important role in bone health. In terms of nutrition, accumulating evidence suggests that dried plum (Prunus domestica L.) is potentially an efficacious intervention for preventing and reversing bone mass and structural loss in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis, as well as in osteopenic postmenopausal women. Here, we provide evidence supporting the efficacy of dried plum in preventing and reversing bone loss associated with ovarian hormone deficiency in rodent models and in humans. We end with the results of a recent follow-up study demonstrating that postmenopausal women who previously consumed 100 g dried plum per day during our one-year clinical trial conducted five years earlier retained bone mineral density to a greater extent than those receiving a comparative control. Additionally, we highlight the possible mechanisms of action by which bioactive compounds in dried plum exert bone-protective effects. Overall, the findings of our studies and others strongly suggest that dried plum in its whole form is a promising and efficacious functional food therapy for preventing bone loss in postmenopausal women, with the potential for long-lasting bone-protective effects.

Advances and Promises of Nutritional Influences on Natural Bone Repair

“…104 Although bioactive compounds in isolation can have wide-reaching health benefits through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, they are known to act additively and synergistically to elicit a more pronounced biological effect when consumed together. 105,106 A recent study demonstrated that grape seed phenolic extract that contains many phytochemicals positively influenced bone healing by increasing the mechanical strength of the healing femur. 107 Though these compounds show some promise in pre-clinical animal studies, several important questions remain (Fig.…”

Dietary countermeasure mitigates simulated spaceflight-induced osteopenia in mice

“…Dried plum, Prunus domestica L., has been shown to have beneficial effects against bone loss 31 (reviewed in Wallace et al 2017). Dried plum's positive effects on bone health markers have been investigated in multiple models of osteopenia, in both human clinical trials [32][33][34][35][36] and rodent studies 37,38 . While the mechanism of action of dried plum is still unknown, it has been hypothesized that the high antioxidant capacity and high polyphenolic content of this fruit scavenges free-radicals as well as promotes bone formation and inhibits bone resorption [39][40][41][42] .…”

Polyphenol-Enriched Plum Extract Enhances Myotubule Formation and Anabolism while Attenuating Colon Cancer-induced Cellular Damage in C2C12 Cells

“…In rat models of osteoporosis, dried plum intake resulted in prevention and reversal of bone loss [43,44]. A three-month clinical intervention study showed that dried plum intake improved biomarkers of bone formation in postmenopausal women, whereas longer term intake of dried plum resulted in mitigating loss of bone mineral density [30].…”

“…In addition, plums have been extensively studied for their effects on bone health [29,30]. Plums contain caffeic acid (the polyphenol component of neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids) and rutin, which have been shown to inhibit the deterioration of bone tissues and prevent diseases such as osteoporosis in postmenopausal women [31].…”