Actively Recruiting
Prebiotics (Dried Plum) and Immune Function in Postmenopausal Women
Led by Indiana University · Updated on 2025-10-29
30
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
156 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
I
Indiana University
Lead Sponsor
P
Purdue University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Prebiotics (Dried Plum) and Immune Function in Postmenopausal Women
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Women aged 60 to 75 years at the start of the study
- At least 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period
- Willing to include dried plums in their daily diet and collect fecal samples at four time points
- Able to walk without assistance
- Able to give informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Use of medications altering bone or calcium metabolism within 12 months before the study, including oral bisphosphonates, raloxifene, denosumab, parathyroid hormone, or growth hormone; any prior use of intravenous bisphosphonates
- Use of hormone replacement therapy, steroids, biologics, or chronic NSAIDs within 3 months before the study
- Previous diagnosis of osteoporosis or other metabolic bone diseases, renal disease, stroke, heart attack, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, or autoimmune diseases affecting bone or T cell biology
- Cancer treatment within 12 months before the study
- Use of prebiotic or probiotic supplements or natural products with estrogen-like effects in the past 3 months
- Smoking, body mass index over 40 kg/m2 or under 18.5 kg/m2, or consuming more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day
- Regular consumption of dried plums or prune juice more than once per week
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
IU Health University Hospital Clinical Research Center
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202
Actively Recruiting
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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