Elderly, Healthy
Conditions
Keywords
healthy older people
Brief summary
Dried plums (Prunus domestica L.) have traditionally been recognized for their health benefits related to conditions such as constipation, irregular menstrual cycles and mouth sores. This dried fruit provides high levels of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Dried plum has also been shown in animal studies to have beneficial effects on bone and can prevent the loss of bone caused by low hormone levels such as occurs after surgical removal of the ovaries. We also have shown that dried plum can prevent the loss of bone associated with aging in mice. Very few therapies for osteoporosis actually reverse bone loss and improve bone strength. The potential therapeutic value of dried plum in men and women with hormone deficiency or age-related osteoporosis is clear.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTdried plum powder
subjects will have 25% of their diet substituted by dried plum powder
Sponsors
University of California, San Francisco
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age between 50 yrs and 75 yrs * Nonsmokers * Normal renal and hepatic function
Exclusion criteria
* Subjects who must follow a specific diet * Subjects on any daily medications that affect bone health * Subjects too heavy for the DEXA machine (weight limit 300 lbs) * Subjects whose BMD by DEXA indicates osteoporosis * Subjects unwilling to follow the diet specified * Pregnant women * Subjects who are unable to understand the consent form.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| urinary calcium excretion | one month |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| ability to tolerate the diet | one month |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed