title: Effects of long-term cranberry supplementation on endocrine pancreas in aging rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology, NIH Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jingping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Wook
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghaedian
authors.forename: Joshua K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Napora
authors.forename: Sige
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005638:Fruit; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011208:Powders; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D029799:Vaccinium macrocarpon
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011208:Powders