Effects of Long-Term Cranberry Supplementation on Endocrine Pancreas in Aging Rats

The effects of long-term cranberry consumption on age-related changes in endocrine pancreas are not fully understood. Here we treated male Fischer 344 rats with either 2% whole cranberry powder supplemented or normal rodent chow from 6 to 22 month old. Both groups displayed an age-related decline in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2011-11, Vol.66A (11), p.1139-1151
Main Authors: Zhu, Min, Hu, Jingping, Perez, Evelyn, Phillips, Dawn, Kim, Wook, Ghaedian, Reza, Napora, Joshua K., Zou, Sige
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdominal Fat - physiology
Aging
Aging - physiology
Animals
Berries
Body Composition
Body Weight
Dietary Supplements
Fruit
Homeostasis - physiology
Insulin
Insulin - blood
Insulin Resistance - physiology
Islets of Langerhans - physiology
Journal of Gerontology: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Male
Pancreas
Phytotherapy
Plant Preparations
Postprandial Period
Powders
Rats
Rats, Inbred F344
Rodents
Vaccinium macrocarpon
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Summary:The effects of long-term cranberry consumption on age-related changes in endocrine pancreas are not fully understood. Here we treated male Fischer 344 rats with either 2% whole cranberry powder supplemented or normal rodent chow from 6 to 22 month old. Both groups displayed an age-related decline in basal plasma insulin concentrations, but this age-related decline was delayed by cranberry. Cranberry supplementation led to increased β-cell glucose responsiveness during the oral glucose tolerance test. Portal insulin concentration was 7.6-fold higher in rats fed cranberry, coupled with improved β-cell function. However, insulin resistance values were similar in both groups. Total β-cell mass and expression of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 and insulin within islets were significantly enhanced in rats fed cranberry relative to controls. Furthermore, cranberry increased insulin release of an insulin-producing β-cell line, revealing its insulinotropic effect. These findings suggest that cranberry is of particular benefit to β-cell function in normal aging rats.
ISSN:1079-5006
1758-535X
DOI:10.1093/gerona/glr105