Can Prunes Improve Bone Health?



Prunes are a prebiotic food that helps stop mice from losing bone, according to a recent study that was just published in the journal Nutrients. The authors of the study claim that the prebiotic properties of the carbs and polyphenols in prunes support the restoration of bone health.

Both the prunes' carbohydrate content and their polyphenol content changed the gut flora and were linked to beneficial effects on bone, namely bone restoration. According to definition, prebiotics are substances that improve a person's health by changing the microbiota's makeup or activity, according to principal investigator Brenda Smith, Ph.D., a professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine. The repair of bone loss was the benefit in this instance.

Prunes have been demonstrated in prior studies to encourage favorable changes in the gut flora and maintain bone health. Their polyphenolic chemicals have generally been credited with these advantages; however, the specific mechanisms and contributions of other important nutrients, like as carbohydrates, are yet unknown.

In this work, two unique groups of estrogen-deficient female mice with substantial bone loss were fed prunes containing polyphenol (PP) components and carbohydrates (CHO) for 5- and 10-week intervals. Three further mouse groups were fed diets that contained either whole prunes, a crude extract of prunes that contained both PP and CHO prune components, or a diet that did not contain any prunes or any of its constituent parts, which served as the control group. The macronutrient composition of all diets was similar.

Mice given isolated CHO, isolated PP, prune crude extract, or whole prunes had previously lost bone restored in comparison to mice given no prune or prune component. Additionally, these animals showed significant increases in short chain fatty acid (SCFA) synthesis as well as advantageous adjustments to the intestinal flora. The SCFAs n-butyrate and propionate in particular, which are thought to be particularly effective in preventing bone loss by decreasing biomarkers linked to bone breakdown, were shown to be rising, according to research.                                                                                                             
These findings imply that the stomach may be influenced by prunes and prune components in a way that promotes better mineral absorption, immune system functions, and gut barrier integrity, all of which can influence hormones, metabolites, and immune cells that are important for bone health.

The researchers also noted that early in the study, the CHO alone shown the capacity to rebuild bone, but the effect of the PP on bone became apparent and more significant afterwards.

Despite the fact that Smith noted they appeared to have prebiotic action, "those prebiotics are presumably occurring by distinct processes." Her research, she continued, "makes a compelling case for eating whole prunes because you receive part of the short-term benefit from the carbohydrate and the long-term benefit from the polyphenols."

Smith pointed out that prunes' vitamins, minerals, and plant-based components might also be responsible for their favorable effects on the intestines and bones. This study emphasizes the value of consuming the full fruit while bringing our grasp of the special qualities of prunes closer.

The effects of prunes and their distinct components on various health disorders are being further investigated in a number of recent or ongoing research, including this one. The association between prune consumption and inflammation in postmenopausal women, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in mice, and colon cancer suppression in rats are three other findings that will be discussed or published in the near future. These findings should add to the growing body of research that suggests prunes are a healthy diet for the gut and bones.

According to a study published in Nutrients on April 19, 2022, "Dried Plum's Polyphenolic Compounds and Carbohydrates Contribute to Its Osteoprotective Effects and Exhibit Prebiotic Activity in Estrogen Deficient C57BL/6 Mice," by Brenda J. Smith, Bethany Hatter, Karley Washburn, Jennifer Graef-Downard, Babajide A. Ojo, Guadalupe Davila El-

By FLEISHMAN-HILLARD, SACRAMENTO AUGUST 19, 2022

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