Clinical Research Directory

Prebiotics (Dried Plum) and Immune Function in Postmenopausal Women

Prior studies have shown that dietary supplementation with dried plums (also known as prunes) reduces bone loss in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this clinical trial is to understand how dried plums mediate their effects on bone. The main questions the study will answer are: 1. Does adding dried plums to the diet alter immune cell function? 2. Does dried plum alter gut microbes? 3. Does a person's vitamin D status influence this response? Researcher will compare the response following consumption of the normal diet to supplementing the diet with dried plums. Participant will: 1. Consume their normal diet or supplement their normal diet dried plums for four week periods over the course of 3-4 months. 2. Complete 5 study visits scheduled. 3. Perform some physical function tests and have a bone density scan at the beginning of the study. 4. Complete questionnaires, a 3-day food record, and provide stool and blood samples at 4 different timepoints during the study. 5. Record information about their bowel habits