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Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) fruits are widely consumed and valued for their nutritional and phytochemical composition. This review provides a critical narrative synthesis of current evidence on the nutritional value, phytochemical diversity, and reported biological activities of date palm fruits, with attention to the strength and relevance of available evidence. The synthesis was informed by targeted searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, and evidence was interpreted according to translational relevance, with priority given to human data over animal, in vitro , and in silico evidence. Date fruits are rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, essential minerals, and a wide range of phytochemicals, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, and phytosterols. Many experimental studies report antioxidant and metabolism-related bioactivities, and some suggest possible roles in glycemic regulation and microbial inhibition. However, most reported effects are based on in vitro studies, while in vivo and human evidence remains limited. In addition, large differences in cultivar, ripening stage, processing conditions, and analytical methods make direct comparison between studies difficult. By clearly distinguishing between levels of evidence, this review highlights important limitations and research gaps in the current literature. Future studies should focus on standardized cultivar description, improved chemical profiling, realistic intake levels, and biologically meaningful outcomes. Addressing these issues will help clarify the functional significance of date palm fruits and support their evaluation within plant science and food research frameworks.
Abdallah et al. (Mon,) studied this question.