Dried Plum Consumption Improves Antioxidant Capacity and Reduces Inflammation

in Postmenopausal Women
Michelle Nakamichi-Lee, Shirin Hooshmand, Mark Kern, Arshya Ahouraei, Mee Young Hong
School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

ABSTRACT

METHODS

RESULTS

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and

menopause significantly raises risk in women. Abnormal blood lipids, inflammation
and oxidative stress play significant roles in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular
disease development. Dried plums contain bioactive components that have
demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and therefore may be
beneficial in reducing CVD risk. The objective of this study was to determine the
effects of dried plum consumption on lipid profiles, oxidative stress, antioxidant
capacity and inflammation in postmenopausal women. Another goal was to
determine if a moderate dose of 50 g/day is equally effective to a high dose (100
g/day). A 6-month controlled clinical trial was conducted in which 48 postmenopausal
women were randomly assigned to consume 0, 50 or 100 g of dried plum each day.
Serum lipid profiles, antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid
peroxidation, inflammatory biomarkers and liver function enzyme activities were
analyzed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of intervention. No significant
differences in outcome variables were detected between the 50 g and 100 g dried
plum groups at any time point, so data from the two dried plum groups were
combined. At 3 and 6 months, total cholesterol (p=0.037), lipid peroxidation
(p=0.031) and interleukin-6 (p=0.046) were significantly lower in the combined dried
plum group compared to the control group. Total antioxidant capacity (p=0.036),
superoxide dismutase (p=0.038) and catalase (p=0.05) activities were significantly
greater after dried plum consumption at 3 and 6 months compared to the control
group. Additionally, serum levels of the liver function enzymes alanine transaminase
(p=0.001), alkaline phosphatase (p=0.001), lactate dehydrogenase (p=0.038) and
creatine kinase (p=0.044) were significantly lower at 3 and 6 months in the dried
plum groups than the control group. These findings indicate that consumption of 50100 g of dried plum per day improves CVD risk factors in postmenopausal women as
exhibited by lower total cholesterol, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers.
This study was funded by San Diego State University, the Kasch-Boyer Endowed
Scholarship in Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, and the California Dried Plum
Board.

Study Design
Participants: 40 postmenopausal women (65-79 years old)
Exclusion Criteria: regular dried plum or prune juice consumption; heavy tobacco use,
chronic disease, inflammatory condition or prescription medication use during study; or
treatment with hormone replacement therapy within 3 months prior to study.
Random assignment to 1 of 3 groups:
Group 1(control group, n=13), consumed no dried plum
Group 2(n=14), consumed 50 g/day of dried plum for 6 months
Group 3(n=13), consumed 100 g/day of dried plum for 6 months
Fasting venous blood samples were collected at baseline, 3 & 6 months
Serum assay analysis of:
Lipid profiles
Lipid peroxidation
Antioxidant enzyme activity
Antioxidant capacity
Liver function enzyme activity
Systemic inflammatory biomarkers
Data Analysis
Data initially analyzed by two-way ANOVAs
Secondary data analysis conducted via t-tests
Basal values from all groups were excluded
Data at 3 and 6 months from both dried plum treatment groups were combined
and compared to control group
Alpha level p<0.05 was considered statistically significant

Figure 4. Serum oxidative stress levels in postmenopausal

women significantly lower (p=0.031) in the dried plum group
(50 g and 100 g) as compared to the control (0 g). Data are
presented as mean SE. Bars that do not share the same
letter are significantly different from each other (p<0.05).

Table 2 Antioxidant enzyme activity

Table 1. Study participant characteristics

INTRODUCTION
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. It has been
well documented that blood dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation and increased levels
of reactive oxygen species related to oxidative stress contribute significantly to the
initiation and progression of CVD. Postmenopausal women are at significantly higher
risk for CVD, which has been attributed to a decline in estrogen levels. Reduced
estrogen levels have been associated with alterations in lipid metabolism, blood
pressure, vascular function and increases in the production of pro-inflammatory
molecules. In an effort to find alternative therapeutic approaches to drug therapy,
considerable research has been done examining the cardiovascular benefits of
individual components of dried plum, however, there are a limited number of studies
examining the effects of actual dried plum consumption. Animal and in vitro studies
have shown dried plum to have anti-inflammatory effects, decrease oxidative stress
as well as improve lipid profiles and hypertension. Additionally, a few studies in
humans has demonstrated that dried plum consumption has the capacity to reduce
serum lipid peroxidation, total and LDL-C levels, systemic inflammatory biomarkers
and increase anti-oxidant capacity in doses of 84 -100 g/day. However, due to
inconsistencies in results across different studies, definitive effects of regular dried
plum consumption remains unclear. Furthermore, as 100 g of dried plum may be a
high amount required for daily intake compliance, it would be beneficial to determine
the efficacy of lower and more practical quantities.

Figure 3. Serum total antioxidant capacity in postmenopausal

women significantly higher (p=0.036) in the dried plum group (50
g and 100 g) as compared to the control (0 g). Data are
presented as mean SE. Bars that do not share the same letter
are significantly different from each other (p<0.05).

Antioxidant enzyme activity 3 and 6 months combined of postmenopausal women consuming no dried plum
(control) compared to 50 and 100 g of dried plum. Values are expressed as mean SE. Values that do not share
the same letter are significantly different at p<0.05 in comparison to the corresponding control group.

Values are expressed as means standard deviations. Baseline characteristics of participants were not significantly different between groups.
There were no significant mean characteristic differences observed within or between each treatment group.

LMP: last menstrual period. BMI: body mass index.

Table 3. Liver function enzyme activity

RESULTS

Liver function enzyme activity at 3 and 6 months combined of postmenopausal women consuming 0 g (control)
compared to 50 g and 100 g of dried plum. Values are expressed as mean SE. Values that do not share the
same letter are significantly different at p<0.05 in comparison to the corresponding control group.

OBJECTIVES

CONCLUSIONS

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of daily dried plum
consumption on lipid profiles, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and inflammation
in postmenopausal women. Another objective was to determine if a moderate dose of
50 g/day of dried plum consumption was equally effective to 100 g/day.

These findings suggest that daily dried plum consumption of 50 100 g may reduce
the risk of CVD in healthy postmenopausal women by increasing serum total
antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzyme activity and lowering serum total cholesterol,
interleukin-6 levels, and lipid peroxidation.

Figure 1. Total cholesterol concentration of postmenopausal

women significantly lower (p=0.037) in the dried plum group (50 g
and 100 g) as compared to the control (0 g). Data are presented
as mean SE. Bars that do not share the same letter are
significantly different from each other (p<0.05).

Figure 2. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) in postmenopausal women

significantly higher (p=0.046) in the dried plum group (50 g and
100 g) compared to the control (0 g). Data are presented as
mean SE. Bars that do not share the same letter are significantly
different from each other (p<0.05).