Although women are more than 4 times more likely to suffer from it than men, osteoporosis is a disease that affects both sexes and causes bone weakness and fragility.
This is partly because estrogen levels drop at the onset of menopause, which leads to a loss of bone density.
5 to 6 plums
And in this case, new research led by Penn State showed that eating prunes on a daily basis may help women maintain bone density.
In a recent article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers assessed the bone density of 235 postmenopausal women, some of whom were assigned to eat 50g – roughly 5 or 6 plums – or 100g of prunes per day for a year.
They also measured the women’s bone mineral density, bone geometry and estimated bone strength, and found evidence that prunes may be beneficial.
The results indicated that 5 or 6 plums per day was more beneficial, as the participants were more likely to continue the diet.
She also explained the importance of eating plums in that the participants who ate between 10 and 12 plums were more likely to drop out of the study.
Consuming 5 to 6 plums per day for 12 months resulted in preservation of bone in the hip, said lead author Mary Jane De Souza, senior professor of kinesiology and physiology, a finding that was noticeable at six months and lasted up to 12 months.
In another study, 3D bone imaging provided additional information regarding bone response to daily prune intake.
Improving the quality of life for millions of elderly people
In addition, results indicated that plum consumption maintains bone mass density and strength at weight-bearing sites in the hip.
Women who did not eat plums noticed a 1.1% decrease in bone density, while women who ate 5 or 6 plums each day did not experience a significant loss in bone density.
Other preliminary findings suggest similar results for the tibia, which is a bone in the shin.
It is stated that if this proves to be true, it might lead to an improvement in the quality of life for millions of elderly people, as daily consumption of prunes is likely to be beneficial for bone health in the long term.
