Bowel function of postmenopausal women: Effects of daily consumption of dried plum

Figures & data

Table 1. Nutrient concentration of 50 g and 100 g dried plum obtained by both calculation and actual analyses.

	Dried Plum (Per 50 g)		Dried Plum (Per 100 g)
	Calculated^a	Actual^b	Calculated^a	Actual^b
Energy (Kcal)	119.5	110	239	220
Fat (g)	0.26	0.12	0.52	0.23
Total Carbohydrates (g)	31.4	31.7	62.7	63.4
Fiber (g)	3.55	Not assessed	7.10	Not assessed
Protein (g)	1.31	1.12	2.61	2.24
Calcium (mg)	25.5	15.0	51.0	30.0
Phosphorus (mg)	39.5	25.0	79	50.0

^a Results obtained from Food Processor version 7.50 (ESHA Research, Salem, OR).

^b Gross energy analysed by bomb calorimetry (Parr 1261 Calorimeter, Parr Inst. Co., Moline, IL), crude protein by the AOAC Kjeldahl method, fat by either extraction, and calcium and phosphorus contents by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, model 5100PC, Perkin-Elmer, Norwalk, CT).

Table 2. Characteristics of study participants.

	0 g Dried Plum		50 g Dried Plum		100 g Dried Plum
Measures	Baseline	6 Months	Baseline	6 Months	Baseline	6 Months
Age (years)	71.0±2.9	-	68.5±4.3	-	70.4±3.7	-
LMP age (years)	49.1±6.6	-	49.3±7.6	-	49.3±7.7	-
Weight (kg)	65.0±10.6	65.7±9.6	64.5±12.1	62.8±11.6	65.5±8.9	65.9±9.6
Height (cm)	161.2±7.0	-	161.7±6.0	-	162.0±7.2	-
BMI	25.0±4.3	25.3±4.7	24.8±3.9	24.2±3.8	24.9±4.0	25.1±3.6
PA (kcal/day)	763±366.6	-	658±455.2	-	715±349.5	-

Values are mean ± SD, n= 48. The CHAMP Physical Activity Questionnaire for older adults was used to assess current physical activity pattern including leisure, occupational, and home activities. There were no statistical significant differences observed between baseline values of three treatment groups and between baseline and 6- month corresponding values.

^aLMP; Last menstrual period

^bBMI; body mass index

^cPA; physical activity

Table 3. Daily nutrient intake calculated from 3-day food record at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months supplemented with 0 g, 50 g, and 100 g dried plum.

Dried Plum	Control (0 g/day) [n=13]			50 g/day [n=16]			100 g/day [n=13]
Daily Intake	Baseline	3 months	6 months	Baseline	3 months	6 months	Baseline	3-month	6-month
Macronutrients
Total Energy (Kcal)	2172±873	1907±687	2136±777	1974±641	1922±588	2012±595	1766±701	2003±662	1799±636
Protein (g)	83.6±33	73.0±27	82.9±24	67.7±24	67.8±24	72.5±25	70.0±30	72.7±25	61.6±25
Carbohydrate (g)	275±109	260±118	302±155	238±84	243±79	237±50	232±96	245±78	229±110
Dietary fibre (g)	26.1±15	26.9±12	22.9±14	27.1±11	28.9±9	29.0±9	24.0±14	24.0±12	27.3±12
Fat (g)	76.2±45	77.8±22	78.0±28	73.8±35	79.6±32	80.1±47	72.1±34	79.5±47	72.3±27
Vitamins
Vitamin A (mg)	2.43±0.23	2.32±0.14	2.64±0.14	2.58±0.13	2.65±0.13	3.00±0.04	2.30±0.20	2.31±0.26	2.28±0.50
Vitamin C (mg)	156±5	111±8	125±10	157±15	142±17	117±5	113±9	124±6	142±7
Vitamin E (mg)	5.9±0.3	5.4±0.5	6.7±0.5	4.6±0.3	7.3±1.2	6.8±0.7	5.4±0.6	6.0±0.4	6.0±0.5
Vitamin K (µg)	157.9±7.6	153.8±6.3	150.7±10.1	151.1±7.6	164.8±15.0	199.1±35.8	136.9±12.6	144.4±9.1	226.3±13.9
Vitamin D (µg)	1.9±0.9	2.5±0.4	2.4±0.3	1.9±0.5	2.0±0.2	1.6±0.1	2.0±0.1	1.6±0.1	1.31±0.5
Minerals (mg)
Calcium	750.8±87	790.5±47	765.2±37	710.9±58	744.3±29	773.0±29	784.4±27	774.6±26	769.8±33
Magnesium	187.4±13	180.8±19	168.9±19	196.4±15	214.4±14	174.6±18	183.9±19	194.0±14	199.2±11
Iron	15.5±0.3	16.8±1.2	13.0±0.7	13.4±0.8	15.7±0.9	14.9±0.6	10.3±0.9	12.0±0.9	10.7±0.7
Phosphorus	767.0±48	520±26	665±30	706±49	622±33	604±24	615±32	549±17	561±36

Values are mean ± SD. Analyses do not include dried plum consumption and calcium and vitamin D from the supplements used by participants. There were no statistical significant differences observed between the baseline values of three treatment groups and between baselines, 3 months, and 6 months corresponding values.

Figures 1. A to 1F. For each graph, values are mean ± SD. Figures 1A through 1F reflect the effects of dried plum (0 g, 50 g, and 100 g) for 6 months on bowel movement habits. Figures 1A and 1B represent number of bowel movements and amount of stool produced per day, respectively. Figures 1C through 1F are based on a scale of 1–7.

* = Different between groups at the same time point (p< 0.05).