Drinking plums can protect against osteopenia caused by ionizing radiation.
These are the results of a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The author of the study, Dr. Nancy Turner of the Department of Dietetics at the University of Texas A & M, is confident that this product will be useful not only for victims of radiation accidents, astronauts and nuclear facilities workers, but also for cancer patients who undergo radiotherapy.
"The loss of bone tissue under the influence of ionizing radiation is a serious threat to the health of people of different professions. Reduced activity of bone cells leads to a breakdown in the strength of the skeleton and increases the likelihood of fractures, "- says Dr. Turner.
In humans, bone loss leads to osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become brittle and brittle. According to the most approximate estimates, osteoporosis is responsible for 8.9 million fractures worldwide. The economic losses associated with this disease are estimated at tens of billions of dollars.
Dried plums affect the genes of bone tissue.
American scientists decided to test non-traditional approaches to the protection of bone tissue from radiation, focusing on such phenomena as radiation-induced oxidative stress.
To do this, they tested dozens of different antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances in mice, including ascorbic acid, N-acetylcysteine, L-selenomethionine, selenomethionine (Se-Met), dihydrolipoic acid, tocopherol, ibuprofen, and ordinary dried plums.
It turned out that the most effective remedy against osteopenia is dried plums. They regulate the expression of the genes Nfe2l2, Rankl, Mcp1, Opg and TNF-?, each of which is responsible for the loss of bone tissue after irradiation.
Although scientists do not know exactly what substances this is due to, Dr. Turner suggested that the whole thing is in the polyphenols of plum - gallic, caffeolic, coumaric acids and routine. These substances have well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
"Dried plums are rich in biologically active compounds that can protect the structural integrity of bone tissue in conditions of radiation therapy or exposure to solar radiation during space flights. We recommend this drug for the prevention of osteopenia during irradiation, "- says Turner.
Recall, more recently, foreign publications have reported that regular use of dried plums protects against bowel cancer.
medbe. en.
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