Dried plums (prunes) and immune function in postmenopausal women.

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Postmenopausal women aged 60–75 will alternate between their normal diet and a diet supplemented with dried plums during four-week periods over 3–4 months, with five clinic visits overall. Investigators will collect blood and stool samples at multiple timepoints, perform baseline bone density and physical function tests, and track diet with food records and questionnaires. The study compares immune cell (T cell) responses and gut microbiome composition before and after dried plum supplementation and examines whether baseline vitamin D status modifies those effects. Data will be used to link changes in microbes and immune markers to known bone-protective effects of dried plums.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* women 60-75 years of age at the start of the study;
* 12 or more consecutive months without a menstrual period;
* willing to include dried plums in their daily diet and collect fecal samples at four time points;
* ambulatory without assistance;
* capacity to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* women who have been on medications known to alter bone or calcium metabolism (e.g., oral bisphosphonates, raloxifene, denosumab, intermittent parathyroid hormone, growth hormone) within 12 months of starting the study. Prior use of intravenous bisphosphonates at any time.
* women who have been on hormone replacement therapy, steroids (i.e., glucocorticoids), biologics, or chronic NSAID within 3 months of starting the study.
* women with a previous diagnosis of osteoporosis (i.e., BMD T-score or history of vertebral fracture or fragility fractures of hip, wrist, humerus after the age of 50 yr) or other metabolic bone disease (e.g., osteomalacia or osteogenesis imperfect), renal disease, stroke, heart attack, type 2 diabetes, liver disease or autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic Lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, IBD) that could affect bone metabolism or T cell biology will be excluded.
* women who have undergone treatment for cancer within 12 months of starting the study
* women who have been taking prebiotic or probiotic supplements or natural products that have estrogen-like effects in the past 3 months
* women who smoke, have a BMI \>40 kg/m2 or \<18.5 kg/m2, or consume \>2 alcoholic drinks per day
* women who regularly consume dried plums or prune juice (\>1 serving weekly).

Where it's running

• IU Health University Hospital Clinical Research Center
  Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Recruiting

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.