Eating prunes daily could slow the progression of age-related bone loss and reduce fracture risks in postmenopausal women, according to a study led by researchers from Pennsylvania State University. The study authors found that postmenopausal women who consumed at least four to six prunes daily for one year preserved their bone structure and strength in the weight-bearing area of their shin bones. “This is the first randomized controlled trial to look at three-dimensional bone outcomes with respect to bone structure, geometry and estimated strength,” lead study author Mary Jane De Souza, a distinguished professor of kinesiology and physiology at Penn State, said in a news release.
“In our study we saw that daily prune consumption impacted factors related to fracture risk. That’s clinically invaluable. “When we look at bone mineral density, we’re looking at how much bone there is, but we also want to know about the quality of the bone,” Ms.
De Souza said. Looking at bone structures three-dimensionally “tells us how good the bone is,” she explained. Postmenopausal women are especially at risk of osteoporosis because they lose estrogen during menopause.
Estrogen helps keep bones strong. Women were randomized to eat no prunes, four to six prunes daily, or 10 to 12 prunes daily. The research team assessed bone density and strength every six months through a computed tomography (CT) scan.
The researchers evaluated bone structure and strength in several areas of th.
