Can plums make your cholesterol plummet? Original paper

In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, supplementation with plums decreased LDL cholesterol, with the effect observed only in trials involving participants with prehypertension/hypertension or hypercholesterolemia.

The effect of supplementation with plums on the concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

592 men and women (average ages of 30–58).

A meta-analysis of 9 randomized controlled trials was conducted. Of the 9 trials, 4 recruited participants with prehypertension, mild hypertension, or mild hypercholesterolemia, and 5 recruited healthy participants. The interventions were plum powder drinks in 6 trials and dried plums in 3 trials, and the comparators included water, raspberry cordial, a simulated prune drink, low fat muffins, placebo juice, and grape juice. The intervention duration ranged from 2 to 12 weeks.

In the main analyses, supplementation with plums reduced LDL cholesterol to a small degree (by an average of 11.5 mg/dL) but had no effect on the other outcomes.

In subgroup analyses, supplementation with plums reduced LDL cholesterol in trials involving unhealthy participants and in trials that administered dried plums. It also reduced total cholesterol in trials involving healthy participants.

The risk of bias was unclear in all trials.

The reduction in LDL cholesterol levels specifically with the administration of dried plums may be related to their high fiber content^[1] because the intake of dietary fiber has been associated with reductions in LDL cholesterol levels.^[2]