The findings add scientific knowledge about how prunes prevent bone mineral density loss
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), particularly monocytes, are an important source of proinflammatory cytokines that play a key role in postmenopausal bone loss. A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition examined the effect of prune consumption on monocyte activation and cytokine secretion from PBMCs in postmenopausal women.
The study formed part of The Prune Study, a large, single-center, parallel-arm, 12-month randomized controlled trial completed with 183 postmenopausal women ranging in age from 55 to 75. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a group that ate 50 grams of prunes daily, a group that ate 100 grams of prunes daily, or a control group that did not eat any prunes. The researchers assessed the effect of prune supplementation on a comprehensive panel of immune, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.
The findings showed that prune supplementation reduced proinflammatory cytokine secretion from PBMCs and suppressed circulating levels of activated monocytes in postmenopausal women.
This study was supported by the California Prune Board.
Damani, J. J., Oh, E. S., De Souza, M. J., Strock, N. C., Williams, N. I., Nakatsu, C. H., Lee, H., Weaver, C., & Rogers, C. J. (2024). Prune Consumption Attenuates Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion and Alters Monocyte Activation in Postmenopausal Women: Secondary Outcome Analysis of a 12-Mo Randomized Controlled Trial: The Prune Study. The Journal of Nutrition, 154(5), 1699–1710. 4.2