Food & functionJul 22, 2011

How Cranberry Powder Affects Metabolism in Growing Rats on High Fructose Diets

Updated Mar 7, 2026

Abstract

The medium level of cranberry powder (CP) in the diet produced a better response in metabolic parameters than lower or higher levels.

Fasting plasma glucose and triglycerides were higher with a high fructose diet and reduced by cranberry powder.
The area under the curve for an oral glucose tolerance test was 35-50% higher in high fructose diet rats compared to controls but normalized with low or medium CP diets.
Fasting plasma insulin tended to be lower in rats fed cranberry powder.
Homeostatic models of insulin resistance and β-cell function were lowest in rats fed low or medium CP diets.
Kidney weight increased in high fructose diet rats but decreased to normal levels with cranberry powder.
Overall, inclusion of cranberry powder modulated some metabolic parameters associated with metabolic syndrome.

Simplified

The effect of dietary consumption of a cranberry powder (CP) containing increased amounts of procyanidins and other phytochemicals on metabolic parameters associated with metabolic syndrome was investigated in growing rats fed a high fructose diet. Dietary treatments were control (starch based), high fructose (HF), and HF containing either 3.3, 6.6, or 33 g CP/kg diet. Fasting plasma glucose and triglycerides tended to be higher with HF feeding and were reduced by feeding CP. The area under curve following an oral glucose tolerance test was 35-50% higher in animals fed HF diet vs. control and was decreased to control levels by the low or medium but not high CP diet. Feeding CP tended to lower fasting plasma insulin. Homeostatic models of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-BCF) were lowest in animals fed low or medium CP diets (p < 0.05). Rats fed the control starch diet had slightly higher food intake, final body weight, and abdominal fat compared to animals fed other diets. Kidney weight was higher in HF group and feeding CP decreased kidney weight to normal levels. In the fed state, plasma triglyceride was increased with HF diet, whereas insulin was lower in animals fed HF diet. Overall, inclusion of CP in the diet was effective in modulating some aspects of metabolic parameters associated with metabolic syndrome and the medium level of CP in the diet produced a better response than the lower and higher CP levels.

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