Table 2.
Clinical trials reporting cardiometabolic effects of routine (≥4 weeks) dried fruit consumption.
| References | Study Design | Duration (Week) |
Participants (n) |
Fruit (Dose) |
Comparator | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivan et al. [45] | Crossover | 4 | Men and women with BMI 25–36 kg/m2 and ≥1 additional cardiometabolic risk factor, n = 55 | Equal parts (~28 g each) dried plums, Mission figs, Deglet Noor dates, and raisins totalling ¾ cups/day | Energy-matched processed snacks (animal crackers and fruit snack gummies) | Dried fruits increased LDL-C (0.10 mmol/L) and non-HDL-C (0.12 mmol/L) and reduced HDL-C (−0.05 mmol/L) compared to baseline. Dried fruits increased fasting glucose compared to control (0.08 mmol/L). No between-group or within-group differences in total cholesterol, TAG, blood pressure, or insulin. |
| Tinker et al. [53] | Crossover | 4 | Men with elevated total cholesterol (5.2–7.5 mmol/L), n = 41 | Dried plums, ~100 g/day (12 plums) | 360 mL grape juice | Dried plums reduced LDL-C compared to grape juice (−0.17 mmol/L). No difference in total cholesterol, HDL-C, or TAG. |
| Clayton et al. [54] | Parallel | 8 | Men and women with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, n = 45 | Dried plums, ~84 g/day | Energy-matched portion (200 kcal) of low-fat muffins | Dried plums reduced LDL-C compared to low-fat muffins (−24.5 mg/dL). Dried plums increased C-peptide compared to baseline (+1.56 ng/mL). No between-group or within-group differences in total cholesterol, HDL-C, blood pressure, TAG, insulin, or glucose. |
| Alalwan et al. [55] | Parallel | 16 | Men and women with T2D, n = 96 | Dates (Khudary cultivar, tamar stage), 3 dates/day | Usual diet | Dates reduced total cholesterol compared to baseline (−0.209 mmol/L). No between-group or within-group differences in HbA1c, TAG, HDL-C, or LDL-C. |
| Shishehbor et al. [56] | Parallel | 5 | Men and women with elevated total cholesterol (>200 mg/dL) or TAG (>200 mg/dL), n = 38 | Raisins, 90 g/day | Usual diet | Raisins reduced DBP compared to control group (−1.56 mm Hg). Raisins reduced LDL-C (−0.68 mmol/L) and total cholesterol (−0.72 mmol/L) compared to baseline. No between-group or within-group differences in SBP, HDL-C, or TAG. |
| Kanellos et al. [57] | Parallel | 24 | Men and postmenopausal women with T2D, n = 48 | Corinthian raisins, 36 g/day | Usual diet | Raisins reduced DBP compared to the control group (−6 mm Hg). No between-group or within-group differences in SBP, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, TAG, fasting glucose, or HbA1c. |
| Anderson et al. [58] | Parallel | 12 | Men and women with BMI 25–34.9 kg/m2, blood pressure > 120/80 mm Hg, and fasting glucose 90–150 mg/dL, n = 46 | Raisins, 3 ounces/day | Energy-matched pre-packaged processed snacks (three 100 kcal packages) | Raisins reduced SBP (−5.4 mmHg vs. baseline; −6.3 mmHg vs. snacks), DBP (−5.5 mmHg vs. baseline; −3.6 mmHg vs. snacks), HDL-C (−3.6 mg/dL vs. baseline), and HbA1c (−0.12% vs. baseline; −0.08% vs. snacks). No between-group differences in total cholesterol, LDL-C, TAG, or fasting glucose. |
| Bays et al. [59] | Parallel | 12 | Men and women with T2D and BMI 25–50 kg/m2, n = 46 | Raisins, 3 ounces/day | Energy-matched pre-packaged processed snacks (three 100 kcal packages) | Raisins reduced SBP compared to snacks (−8.7 mm Hg). No between-group differences in fasting glucose, HbA1c, DBP, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, or TAG. |
| Peterson et al. [60] | Crossover | 5 (per arm) |
Men and women with LDL-C 100–189 mg/dL and BMI 18.5–35 kg/m2, n = 102 | Dried California Mission figs (~120 g/day, 12–15 figs) | Usual diet | Figs increased total cholesterol compared to control (6 mg/dL). No difference in LDL-C, HDL-C, or TAG. |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; SBP, systolic blood pressure; T2D, type 2 diabetes; TAG, triacylglycerols.