Prune Consumption and Bone Health Maintenance in Men with Osteopenia

Background/Objectives: Approximately 53.4 million U.S. adults aged 50 or older have low bone mass, yet male bone loss remains under-researched. This study evaluated the effects of one year of prune supplementation on bone health in osteopenic men. Methods: Fifty-nine men (55–80 years) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 0 g prune (control), 50 g prune, or 100 g prune daily, along with 450 mg elemental calcium and 800 IU vitamin D₃. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and blood samples were collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: No significant changes were observed in total bone mineral density (BMD) over one year. C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher in the control group compared to the 50 g group at all time points. Osteo-protegerin (OPG) decreased significantly in all groups, however, the decrease was significantly greater in the control compared to both prune groups. Sclerostin (SOST) significantly increased over time in all groups, albeit to a greater degree in the control group. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP5b) increased in the 50 g and control group but remained stable in the 100 g group. Conclusions: Overall, prune supplementation did not improve BMD beyond that of the calcium and vitamin D₃ supplementation however, there was a modest effect on biomarkers of inflammation and bone metabolism.