(P23-021-23) The Effect of Prune (Dried Plum) Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Markers in Postmenopausal Women: Secondary Analysis of a 12-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Postmenopausal women are at increased risk for cardiometabolic disease as estrogen withdrawal during menopause is linked to adverse metabolic outcomes. Prunes (i.e., dried plums) represent a whole-food nutritional intervention, abundant in bioactive phenolic compounds, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals and is also associated with a low glycemic index. We have previously demonstrated a protective effect of prune consumption on hip bone mineral density. However, our understanding of the effect of daily prune intake on cardiometabolic markers in postmenopausal women is limited. We investigated the dose-response effect of 12-month dietary supplementation with prunes on cardiometabolic markers in postmenopausal women.

Methods: The Prune Study (NCT02822378) was a single-center, parallel-arm, 12-month randomized controlled trial in which postmenopausal women (aged 55–75 years) were allocated to one of the three groups: control group (no prunes); 50g/day prune group (4–6 prunes), or 100g/day prune group (10–12 prunes). Fasting blood samples were collected at months 0 (baseline), 6, and 12 to assess plasma glucose and serum lipids using spectrophotometry (Quest Diagnostics) and plasma insulin using chemiluminescent immunoassays (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics). Insulin resistance was estimated using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). A repeated-measures linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the longitudinal data at all time points to evaluate the effect of time, treatment, and their interaction on markers of glycemic control and blood lipid profile.

Results: In total, 183 postmenopausal women (mean±SD; age, 62.1±4.9 years; body mass index, 25.7±4.1 kg/m²) completed the entire 12-month intervention: control (n=70), 50g/day prune (n=67), and 100g/day prune (n=46). No significant differences were observed in fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR in postmenopausal women among the control, 50g/day prune, and 100g/day prune groups throughout the trial (all p>0.05). Furthermore, serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides did not differ among groups (all p>0.05).

Conclusions: Daily intake of 50g–100g prunes for 12 months did not adversely affect markers of glycemic control and blood lipids in postmenopausal women.

Funding Sources: California Prune Board and TL1 Training Grant