Menopause drastically increases the risk of
osteoporosis. Aside from
drug therapy, lifestyle and nutritional factors play an important role in the maintenance of skeletal health. Our recent findings suggest that dried plums, a rich source of phenolic and
flavonoid compounds, are highly effective in modulating bone mass in an ovarian
hormone-deficient rat model of
osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to examine whether the addition of dried plums to the diets of postmenopausal women positively influences markers of bone turnover. Fifty-eight postmenopausal women not on
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) 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. In comparison with corresponding baseline values, 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. Longer duration studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of dried plum on bone mineral density (BMD) and the skeletal health of postmenopausal women.