World Menopause Day: how California Prunes can support bone health in midlife

Ahead of World Menopause Day on 18th October 2026, the California Prune Board is encouraging women to think about bone loss – one of the less visible consequences of menopause. When oestrogen, which helps keep bone density stable, decreases, bone loss begins to accelerate[1], making this life stage a key time to consider adopting a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. 

Esther Ritson-Elliott, Vice President, International Market Development at the California Prune Board explains: “Among the more obvious symptoms of menopause, it is easy to overlook less evident changes such as changes in bone density. 

“We want to encourage women of every age to think about bone health, with nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyle habits playing a positive role in supporting skeletal health.”

California Prunes are high in vitamin K and a source of manganese, which contribute to the maintenance of normal bones, while also providing fibre and a range of other nutrients. 

The link between the consumption of prunes and bone health has been an increasing focus for the California Prune Board. Since its Nutrition Advisory Panel was established in 1997, more than 70 studies have been published, with research studying the impact prunes can have on gut, bone, and cardiovascular health, as well as weight management and satiety. For the last decade, this has included a growing body of research exploring the relationship between prune consumption and bone health in postmenopausal women.

Dr Annamaria Acquaviva, Nutritionist for the California Prune Board, explains: “Bone is not an inert structure, but living tissue in constant dialogue with our muscles, hormones, and gut microbiota. Menopause makes this delicate balance more vulnerable, yet protecting bone health begins much earlier and should continue throughout life. The evidence on prunes is particularly compelling because it encourages us to look beyond individual nutrients: fibre, vitamin K, manganese, and bioactive compounds come together within a complex food matrix. 

“Clinical studies suggest that eating around five to six prunes a day may help preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women[2]. Consistently including nutrient-rich foods such as California Prunes can be a simple daily choice within a broader strategy to preserve strength, independence, and quality of life.”

Research to date includes the Prune Study, which saw its first paper published in 2022 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Since then, several more aspects of the Prune Study have been examined in peer-reviewed, published papers, with more to come. 

Over the next five years, a major focus of the California Prune Board’s Nutrition Research Roadmap is to expand understanding of the positive effects of prunes at every life stage, including the link between prune consumption and healthy bones and research into the ‘Gut-Bone Axis’. 

New studies include a focus on the ‘trans menopause’ stage – a three-year window when women transition from late perimenopause to early post-menopause. Research will also measure inflammation and gut microbiome health to provide a more holistic picture of prunes’ role in women’s health.

Last year, it was announced that the CPB had secured co-funding from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to support two multi-year studies, building on decades of nutrition research that show the positive effects consuming prunes may have on bone health. 

Esther concludes: “We wanted to take this opportunity to shine the spotlight on bone health not just for women going through the menopause but for those at every life stage. Nutrition, alongside other factors, is a part of the bone health picture. Developing healthy habits, including choosing nutrient-dense foods like California Prunes, is a positive way to achieve a balanced diet that helps support healthy ageing through midlife and beyond.”

 Healthcare professionals can explore the California Prune Board’s nutrition research and evidence on prunes and bone health at www.californiaprunes.net

[1] https://hormonehealth.co.uk/hrt-for-bone-health-during-menopause

[2] De Souza MJ, Strock NCA, Williams NI, et al. Prunes preserve hip bone mineral density in a 12-month randomized controlled trial in postmenopausal women: the Prune Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2022;116(4):897–910. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac189⁠

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Editors notes

The California Prune Board was established in 1980 to represent growers and handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture. California is the world’s largest producer of premium prunes with orchards across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Promoting a lifetime of wellness through the enjoyment of California Prunes, the organization leads the premium prune category with generations of craftsmanship supported by California’s leading food safety and sustainability standards. California Prunes. Prunes. For life.

www.californiaprunes.net