News
New research suggests the ‘prune effect’ appears to target a specific bone area most prone to fracture
TORONTO, ONT (September 13, 2024) – A newly published study among 18- to 25-year-old women shows that eating about a serving of prunes daily for a year may be a safe and inexpensive solution to reduce the risk of bone loss associated with oral contraception use. The study was published in the September issue of Current Developments in Nutrition, an American Society of Nutrition publication.
Specifically, findings show that bone mineral density at the ultradistal radius increased significantly among women taking oral contraceptives (OC) plus 50 grams (about 5-6 prunes) of prunes daily over 12 months. The ultradistal radius is an area especially rich in trabecular bone, which is not solid but is full of holes connected by thin rods and plates of bone tissue.
“Trabecular bone is particularly important for bone health, since skeletal sites with more trabecular bone are those that are most prone to fracture due to osteoporosis,” said Dr. Shirin Hooshmand, PhD, RD, Primary Investigator, San Diego State University.
While the reasons for the “prune effect” aren’t completely understood, research suggests that the effects of prunes occur primarily through inhibition of bone resorption by reducing the activity of osteoclasts, a type of bone cell that breaks down bone tissue.
“As a nutrient-rich fruit, prunes have a combination of minerals, vitamin K, phenolic compounds and fibre that is unique among foods and is important for bone integrity,” Hooshmand said.
About 16 percent of Canadian women aged 15 to 49 use OC, per Statistics Canada data.1 Research has shown that the use of OC can be detrimental to bone health density particularly in younger women.
The new study’s findings expand upon a growing body of research investigating prunes’ effects on bone health. For example, the Prune Study, a 12-month randomised controlled trial conducted with 183 postmenopausal women aged 55 to 75, showed similar bone benefits with daily prune consumption of 50 grams, which is about one serving.
“Now, in addition to findings among postmenopausal women, our study helps begin to round out the prune-bone health effect story to include younger women with increased risk for bone loss,” Hooshmand said.
1 Statistics Canada. Oral contraceptive use among women aged 15 to 49: Results from the Canadian Health Measures Survey.
EDITOR’S NOTES
MORE ABOUT THE STUDY
This parallel-arm, 12-month randomised, controlled trial initially included 90 healthy young females aged 18-25 years. Participants were first divided into two groups: those not taking OC (n=30) and those taking OC (n=60). Those taking OC (for at least 1 year but no more than 5 years) were then randomly assigned to the prune group (n=30) and instructed to eat 50 grams of prunes daily, or the non-prune group (n=30) and instructed to avoid eating prunes. Due to attrition, the 28 participants completed the 1-year trial in both OC groups. Participant anthropometrics and blood bone biomarker measurements were taken at the start of the study, half-way through and at the 12-month mark; bone mineral density scores, via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography, were taken at the start of the study and at the 12-month mark.
The OC + prune group had a total compliance rate for prune consumption of 87%. Unlike both OC groups, more non-OC participants identified as Asian and Hispanic, and none as Black or Other. The majority of study participants were White females. Findings show no statistically significant differences between or within groups for blood bone biomarkers; bone mineral density at the lumbar spine, right femur, left femur, non-dominant radius and ulna, or total body; and for any site of the tibia. However, bone mineral density at the non-dominant ultradistal radius increased significantly from baseline to 12 months in non-OC and OC+ prune groups.
Study limitations include varying doses and types of OCs used and a less-than-optimal compliance rate
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD
The California Prune Board was established in 1952 to represent growers and handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture. California is the world’s largest producer of prunes with orchards across 14 counties in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Promoting a lifetime of wellness through the enjoyment of California Prunes, the organisation leads the premium prune category with generations of craftsmanship supported by California’s leading food safety and sustainability standards.California Prunes. Prunes. For life.
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:
Pereina Choudhury, Three Roots Up (TRU)
E:pereina@threerootsup.com
California Prunes.ca