- Osteoporosis, the loss of bone mass and density, afflicts many people, especially those over the age of 50, and increases the risk of fractures and fractures.
- A new randomized controlled study found that eating 5 to 6 prunes a day maintains bone mass and density and prevents the development of osteoporosis.
- In a second study, the same researchers found that loss of bone health was linked to inflammatory processes in the body, and prunes are known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which a person’s bones lose density and mass, making them more susceptible to fracture. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, about 10 million Americans have this condition, and he’s 44 million with low bone density, putting them at risk for osteoporosis.
Half of women over the age of 50 and one in four men are at increased risk of fractures. Loss of bone mass and density can occur at any age. However, osteoporosis is most common among older people.
Osteoporosis occurs most often in postmenopausal women. From 2017 to 2018,
The hip, spine, and wrist bones are the most common sites of osteoporotic fractures, but any bone can occur. Hip fractures can be particularly serious in older people.
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This is the second study by researchers at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. The first, as yet unpublished, observational study examined the association between inflammatory markers and decreased bone mineral density (BMD).
Principal Investigator Dr. Mary Jane Sousa said: medical news today:
“Our findings show that higher levels of inflammatory markers are associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers.
“Inflammation may be a key mediator of postmenopausal bone loss and a potential target for nutritional therapy.” Dr. Souza said:.
Funded by the California Prune Commission, the study was presented at the North American Menopause Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2022.
Dr. Souza explained that researchers have been studying the connection between prunes and bone health for many years.
“Our latest study is the largest study investigating the relationship between prunes and favorable bone health in a cohort of over 200 postmenopausal women,” she said.
Dr. Sousa said MNT In a current large randomized trial, “previous small studies have shown that prunes may be a promising non-pharmacologic nutritional intervention to protect bones and maintain bone density and strength.” We wanted to build on existing research to validate and replicate findings from large-scale trials.
“Our study shows that at just five to six prunes per day, hip fractures are the site of most concern for older men and women, as they commonly lead to hospitalization and poor quality of life. It is the first to demonstrate that hip joint bone density loss can be prevented, and loss of independence.”
— Dr. Mary Jane Sousa
“Prunes eaters were protected from an increased risk of hip fractures compared to non-prunes eaters who had an exacerbated fracture risk,” she added.
The researchers also found “similar trends in maintaining bone strength and maintaining volumetric cortical density in the tibia, while the control group showed worsening of these parameters.”
Researchers divided the participants into three groups. One control group did not eat prunes. Another group ate 5-6 prunes daily and another group ate 10-12 prunes daily.
The benefits of prunes were most pronounced at 5-6 prunes per day, and eating more had no effect.
“The main difference was that the dropout rate was significantly lower in the 5-6 prunes per day group compared to a 41% dropout rate in the 10-12 prunes per day group. 15%,” said Dr. Souza.
“Furthermore, we found that hip BMD was preserved in the 6 prunes/day group compared to the control group, which was not observed in the 10 to 12 prunes/day group.” was observable within 6 months and … persisted up to 12 months.”
— Dr. Mary Jane Sousa
“Also, FRAX [Fracture Risk Assessment] Total hip scores did not increase in the pooled group of women [containing both the 5-6 prunes a day group and the 10–12 prunes a day group] compared to the control group,” said Dr. Souza. This suggests that eating more prunes did not increase bone health.
“While it is not always clear what ingredients in prunes have this positive effect on bone health, the whole fruit contains several vitamins and minerals that are important for bones, including boron, potassium, copper and vitamin K. Prunes also contain bioactive polyphenols, compounds that may play a role in bone formation,” said Dr. Souza.
Referring to prunes’ anti-inflammatory benefits, she said, “We are specifically studying this effect and will report on these results soon.”
“We are eager to continue this type of bone health-related research, as well as explore the effects of prunes on the gut-bone axis and what studies may reveal about their relationship.” We will expand,” she added.
EntirelyNourished.com cardiology nutritionist Michelle Routhenstein, who was not involved in the study, suggested: medical news today Other ways to maintain healthy bones:
“Other dietary strategies that help combat bone loss and support bone strength include getting adequate amounts of calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K from food.”
“We highly recommend getting your calcium from foods such as sardines, yogurt, and collard greens. will be
— Michelle Rutenstein
Routhenstein recommends that people trying to use supplements to keep their bones healthy “avoid high-dose calcium supplements above 500 mg because of their ability to cause arterial calcification.”
