NCT02950402

Dried Plums and Chronic Disease Markers

Impact of California Dried Plums on Markers of Bone, Cardiovascular and Digestive Health

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 27 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, Davis · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 50 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study evaluates whether the consumption of California dried plums can be beneficial to your health. Previous studies using dried plums have shown beneficial effects on bone and cardiovascular health. In addition the investigators hope to learn how dried plums might change your bowel habits, and if the carbohydrates in the plums are fermented in your digestive tract.

Detailed description

The aging of the U.S. population presents a number of challenges, many of which that can be addressed through nutritional approaches. Postmenopausal women are particularly at-risk for a number of diseases such as osteoporosis (By 2020 it is estimated that 50 percent of women at 50 years and older will either suffer from or be at-risk of bone loss), and cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of postmenopausal women. Polyphenolic compounds in fruits and nuts have been the focus of extensive research regarding their potential to reduce risk for a number of chronic diseases. All fruits are not created equally, so determining if dried plums (Prunus domestica L.) have certain phytochemicals in amounts that promote health when consumed in realistic amounts is important. This demonstration is likely to impact market demand for dried plums. Indeed, favorable research on other California specialty crops (walnuts, almonds, strawberries, grapes) is a key strategy to help growers increase sales. While hundreds of plum cultivars exist, with varying amounts of phenolic compounds, the process of drying results in high amounts on hydroxycinnamic acids, a family of compounds that have been shown, in animal models, to be protective of bone health by both reducing bone loss and improving bone growth. Hydroxycinnamic acids have also been proposed to improve vascular function by protecting the smooth endothelial lining of the blood vessels in animal models. Whether these encouraging observations also occur in humans is unknown. Therefore, the overall objective of this project is to conduct the first human study exploring the effects of California dried plums on markers of bone health and vascular function. Favorable results from this project will increase awareness of the unique benefits of dried plums for bone health and vascular health, two topics of great interest to aging baby boomers and other health-conscious consumers, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Conditions

• Healthy, Postmenopausal Women

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Two Dried Plums per day	Subjects will consume Two Dried Plums per day
OTHER	Six Dried Plums per day	Subjects will consume Six Dried Plums per day

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-06-01
• Primary completion: 2017-12-01
• Completion: 2017-12-01
• First posted: 2016-11-01
• Last updated: 2018-03-22