Effects of a Fructose-Enriched Diet on Plasma Insulin and Triglyceride Concentration in SHR and WKY Rats

Significant increases (P less than 0.001) in plasma insulin and triglyceride concentrations and in blood pressure were seen when SHR and WKY rats ate a fructose-enriched diet for 14 days. However, all of the changes were significantly accentuated (P less than 0.02-0.001) in SHR rats. Specifically the increment in plasma insulin concentration following the fructose-enriched diet was 42 +/- 4 microU/ml in SHR as compared to 25 +/- 4 microU/ml in WKY rats (P less than 0.001). Plasma triglyceride concentrations also increased to a greater degree in response to fructose in SHR rats (260 +/- 24 vs. 136 +/- 20 mg/dl, P less than 0.001). Finally, the fructose-induced increase in blood pressure of 29 +/- 4 mm of Hg in SHR rats was greater (P less than 0.02) than that seen in WKY rats (19 +/- 2 mm of Hg). There was no change in plasma glucose concentration in response to the fructose diet. WKY rats gained more weight than did the SHR rats. Thus, although plasma triglyceride and insulin concentration and blood pressure increased when either WKY or SHR rats consumed a fructose enriched diet, the magnitude of these changes was greater in SHR rats.