Prunes are dried plums. They have a unique nutritional profile that provides a number of health benefits. There is some evidence that eating prunes is good for bone health and can be beneficial for people with osteoporosis.

Eating prunes has a number of health benefits. For instance, they can help increase the frequency of bowel movements and improve stool weight in those who do not eat much fiber.

There is also some evidence to suggest that eating prunes can promote bone health.

In this article, we discuss how prunes can benefit a person with osteoporosis, and make suggestions as to how to incorporate them into the diet.

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Osteoporosis is a bone condition that results in weak and fragile bones. This increases a person’s risk of breaking a bone even after minor falls and bumps.

Osteoporosis commonly weakens bone:

  • tissue
  • structure
  • strength

The condition can progress slowly, meaning some people may not know they have osteoporosis until they experience a fracture.

The authors of a 2017 review analyzed a number of studies into prunes and bone health and observe that prunes may help protect against bone loss.

The review authors state that prunes have higher vitamin K content than most other commonly consumed fruits, which can help improve calcium balance. This may be one of the reasons prunes are effective in improving bone health.

Osteoporosis can cause a person to lose bone density. As prunes can help protect against bone loss, they may be effective at maintaining good bone density and reducing the risk of fractures in individuals with osteoporosis.

Bone loss is the main symptom of osteoporosis. This reduction of bone density causes bones to become weaker, meaning they can break more easily.

One 2017 review looked at the effect of dried prunes on individuals who have gone through menopause. This is because people in the postmenopausal stage have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.

The authors of the review discuss both a rat study and a human clinical trial that they had previously conducted. Their findings suggest that prunes are an effective food for preventing and reversing bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The loss of bone density and mass is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Prunes can help prevent and reduce the loss of bone mass. This means that eating prunes can also lower a person’s risk of developing osteoporosis.

A small 2016 study looked at the effect of dried prunes on older adults in the postmenopausal stage with osteoporosis.

The authors divided 48 participants into three groups. One group received 50 grams (g) of prunes per day, one group received 100 g of prunes per day, and the control group received no dose of prunes.

According to the study results, both the low dose of 50 g and the high dose of 100 g of prunes per day were effective in preventing bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

There is also some evidence that dietary supplementation with prunes may be able to help prevent and reverse the effects of osteopenia.

Osteopenia is a condition where a person’s bone density is lower than is usual for their age. Over time, osteopenia can develop into osteoporosis.

By helping prevent osteopenia, prunes may be effective in lowering a person’s risk of developing osteoporosis.

Research suggests that daily consumption of 50 g of prunes, which is equivalent to 5–6 prunes, is enough to benefit bone health.

How to eat prunes

There are a number of ways a person can add prunes to their diet. Below are some options for people who wish to eat more prunes:

  • Eat them alone as a snack.
  • Add them to oatmeal at breakfast.
  • Combine them with nuts mixed with other dried fruits, such as apricots, and add chocolate chips for a healthy, sweet snack.
  • Add them to baked goods.
  • Use them in savory stews.
  • Drink prune juice.
  • Add prune juice to smoothies.

Studies show that eating prunes can benefit a person’s bone health.

This may be due to the high levels of vitamin K in prunes. Evidence suggests that vitamin K plays an important role in bone health. Low intake of vitamin K can increase the risk of lower bone density and fracture.

Prunes are also a good source of potassium, which health experts associate with improved bone health.

Studies have shown that potassium intake can neutralize acid load and reduce calcium loss in bones. This in turn can have a positive effect on bone mineral density.

Osteoporosis is a bone condition that results in weaker bones and low bone density. This can increase a person’s risk of fractures and broken bones.

Prunes are dried plums. There is some evidence that adding prunes to a person’s diet can help reduce bone loss and increase bone density. This in turn may help lower the risk of developing osteoporosis and experiencing fractures and breaks.

A person with osteoporosis may wish to add prunes to their diet to help improve their bone health.