Effects of Cranberry on Gut and Metabolic Health (CRANOS)

The consumption of plant-based foods, particularly berries, has been associated with improved health due to their high content of bioactive compounds. Among these, polyphenols-especially proanthocyanidins (PACs)-may offer protective effects against chronic diseases related to overweight and obesity. Cranberries are naturally rich in PACs and may positively influence metabolic health by modulating the gut microbiota. However, their specific effects on intestinal integrity and broader metabolic outcomes remain underexplored.

The primary aim of this study is to assess the effects of cranberry supplementation on glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, blood lipid levels, and the composition and function of the gut microbiota in overweight and obese individuals.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial will include two 12-week intervention periods-one with a cranberry beverage and one with a placebo-separated by a 4-week washout period and preceded by a 2-week lifestyle stabilization phase. Participants will undergo comprehensive metabolic assessments (glucose control, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile), body composition analysis, gut microbiota profiling, and liver fat imaging (MRI in a subsample of female participants). Additional evaluations will include markers of inflammation, appetite regulation, intestinal health, and lifestyle factors.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Metabolic Syndrome; Insulin Resistance; Microbiota; Overweight/Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Cranberry beverage; Dietary supplement: Placebo beverage

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 73
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Julie Marois, M.Sc.; Phone Number: 1-418-656-5258; Email: julie.marois@fsaa.ulaval.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Quebec
    • Québec, Quebec, Canada, G1V0A6
      • Recruiting
      • INAF, Université Laval
      • Contact: Julie Marois, M.Sc.; Phone Number: 1-418-656-5258; Email: julie.marois@fsaa.ulaval.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• body mass index between 25 and 40 kg/m2
• at least one of the following criteria: fasting plasma insulin >60 pmol/L, fasting glycemia between 5.5 and 6.9 mmol/L, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 5.7- 6.4% and/or fasting triglyceride >1.35 mmol/L.

Exclusion Criteria:

• to have aversion to cranberry products
• regularly drinking alcohol (>2 glasses/day)
• having a significant change in body weight in the past 3 months (±5% of their body weight) due to bariatric surgery or other conditions
• taking medication which may affect the study outcomes (i.e. antidiabetic and/or cholesterol or lipid-lowering medications and/or glucocorticosteroid in supraphysiological doses and/or anti-obesity medications)
• taking regular probiotics and prebiotics (including fruit/berry polyphenol supplements) in the past 3 months
• having eating disorders
• had undergone major surgery 3 months prior to the study or if they had one planned
• if they had intestinal malabsorption, cirrhosis or chronic kidney disease
• being pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo beverage	Dietary supplement: Placebo beverage; Daily consumption of 240 ml of placebo beverage for 12 weeks.
Experimental: Cranberry beverage	Dietary supplement: Cranberry beverage; Daily consumption of 240 ml of cranberry beverage for 12 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in glucose homeostasis	Assessment of glucose concentrations during a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in insulin secretion	Assessment of insulin a concentrations during a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in insulin secretion	Assessment of C-Peptide concentrations during a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in lipid profile	Assessment of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in other measures of glucose homeostasis	Assessment of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in blood pressure	Assessment of systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in chronic inflammation	Assessment of plasma high sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) concentrations	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in anthropometric measurements	Assessment of body mass index (BMI) using weight and height. These two measurements will be combined to calculate BMI in kg/m2	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in anthropometric measurements	Assessment of waist circumference	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in body composition	Assessment of changes in lean mass, fat mass and visceral fat mass (all in grams) using body composition by Dual X-ray Absorptiometry scan	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in gut microbiota	Assessment of global variation of the fecal microbiota	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in gut microbiota function	Assessment of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) in feces	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)
Change in fat accumulation in the liver	Evaluation of fat accumulation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a subgroup of women only.	Pre and post each treatment (12 week/each)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Laval University
• Collaborators: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 7, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 28, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 4, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 10, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 4, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Hyperinsulinism; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Overweight; Obesity; Metabolic Syndrome; Insulin Resistance
• Other Study ID Numbers: CRANOS 2024-530

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No