Osteopenia dried plums treatment.

If you have Osteopenia dried plums might belong in your diet. Yes, you read that correctly. Those dark, wrinkled fruits found on the grocery shelves next to raisins and dried apricots appear to restore bone density!

The research began in 2001 when scientists at the University of Illinois in Chicago published a paper about the growth, chemical composition and possible health used of of Dried Plums or Prunes.

They give the history and composition of dried plums. Near the end they mention a number of health conditions that Dried Plums might alleviate. Here is their abstract:

“ Prunes are dried plums, fruits of Prunus domestica L., cultivated and propagated since ancient times. Most dried prunes are produced from cultivar d'Agen, especially in California and France, where the cultivar originated. After harvest, prune-making plums are dehydrated in hot air at 85 to 90 degrees C for 18 h, then further processed into prune juice, puree, or other prune products. ... Because of their sweet flavor and well-known mild laxative effect, prunes are considered to be an epitome of functional foods, but the understanding of their mode of action is still unclear.

Dried prunes contain approximately 6.1 g of dietary fiber per 100 g,. . .Prunes are good source of energy in the form of simple sugars, but do not mediate a rapid rise in blood sugar concentration, possibly because of high fiber, fructose, and sorbitol content. Prunes contain large amounts of phenolic compounds (184 mg/100 g), mainly as neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, which may aid in the laxative action and delay glucose absorption. Phenolic compounds in prunes had been found to inhibit human LDL oxidation in vitro, and thus might serve as preventive agents against chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.

Additionally, high potassium content of prunes (745 mg/100 g) might be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Dried prunes are an important source of boron, which is postulated to play a role in prevention of osteoporosis. A serving of prunes (100 g) fulfills the daily requirement for boron (2 to 3 mg). More research is needed to assess the levels of carotenoids and other phytochemicals present in prunes to ensure correct labeling and accuracy of food composition tables in order to support dietary recommendations or health claims. "

Researchers at Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, USA took up the call for more research and they have published a series of articles about Osteopenia dried plums.

Like most studies on bone loss, they began with rats. First they studies female rats whose ovaries had been removed and who already showed bone loss. Then they studied male rats who were deficient in gonadl hormones and had bone loss as a result.

Both studies showed positive bone making results.

The study of the females rats is most interesting because it showed a reversal of trabecular bone loss " dried plum improves trabecular microstructure of tibia after (bone) losses have already occurred."

For the male rats they found "..that dried plum prevents osteopenia in androgen deficient male rats."

Human subjects and dried plums.

"These were randomly assigned to consume either 100 g dried plums or 75 g dried apples daily for 3 months. Both dried fruit regimens provided similar amount of calories, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber. Serum and urinary biochemical markers of bone status were assessed before and after treatment. "

The researchers about Osteopenia dried plums found:

"Only dried plums significantly increased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) activity. Higher levels of both serum IGF-I and BSAP are associated with greater rates of bone formation. Serum and urinary markers of bone resorption, however, were not affected by either dietary regimen. The results of this study suggest that dried plums may exert positive effects on bone in postmenopausal women."

Again the scientists use very careful language for early research results. If you have read the pages about Advacal, you know that Dr. Fujita used such careful language in his early studies of AAACA and only began using stronger language to say that this special form of calcium improved bone density even among the very old until he had years of positive research results.

So the study of Osteopenia dried plums treatment seems to be good news. Dried plums (Prunes) are readily available in most supermarkets. They are relatively inexpensive. Of course more long term studies need to be done but it would seem that adding dried plums to your diet would be beneficial to both men and women with Osteopenia.....to say nothing of their other beneficial health effects.

If you like a dried plums, eat them up...the may help restore your bone denisty. And if you find that 100 grams a day proves to be have a laxative effect, then cut back on the amount or take then every other day. But dried plums are a sweet treatment to add to any bone density diet.

Created: 9/12/2006