Do prunes increase bone density or help prevent osteoporosis?

Written by Amy Malec

Updated February 17, 2022 ⓘ

Answer:

Although laboratory and animal studies suggest that compounds in prunes may help promote the activity of cells that build new bone (Damani, Adv Nutr 2022), clinical studies in postmenopausal women with mild bone loss have not shown prunes (6 to 12 per day) to reduce the risk of fractures or increase bone density in the hip or, consistently, in the spine, although they did slightly slow loss of total body bone mineral density (Hooshmand, Br J Nutr 2014; Hooshman, Osteoporos Int 2016).

For information about supplements that may help with osteoporosis, see our article about Supplements and Osteoporosis.

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