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- Urinary tract infections (UI) affect more than 50% of women at least once, and a third of them develop recurrent UI.
- A new meta-analysis by Australian researchers including nearly 9,000 people confirms cranberry’s reputation as a useful supplement for people wishing to avoid recurrent UTIs.
- In the scientists’ analysis, the protective effect of cranberries was evident in women, children, and those vulnerable to urinary tract infections as a result of medical interventions.
- The authors say their work offers compelling evidence that cranberry juice may reduce the risk of UTIs in some people with recurrent UTIs.
Cranberry has long been considered a preventive or curative treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs). To date, however, research has produced conflicting evidence of its effectiveness.
Scientists from Flinders University and Westmead Children’s Hospital in Australia recently published a global study showing that cranberry products may actually reduce the risk of UTIs in certain groups.
This is the fifth update of a review first published in 1998 and last updated in 2012. It appears in Cochrane Reviews.
Professor Jonathan Craigthe study’s lead author, says his team’s research “shows a very positive finding that cranberry juice can prevent UTIs in susceptible people.”
UTIs develop when bacteria enter and infect the urinary tract, which includes the urethra, bladder, ureter, and kidneys.
The growth of Escherichia coli (E.coli) in the urinary tract is the most common cause of UTIs.
This bacterial strain is naturally present in the intestine but can move into the bladder through contamination of faeces. It then sticks to the walls of the bladder and reproduces.
Dr. Gabrielle Williamsthe study’s lead author said Medical News Today that symptoms are no laughing matter: “People with recurring UTI symptoms are sometimes desperate for something to help them. I’ve had mothers in tears over their children’s UTIs, so having something they can try is a positive thing.
According to the co-author of the study Dr. Jacqueline Stephens, untreated UTIs can progress to the kidneys and lead to complications such as sepsis. She said prevention is the best way to reduce these risks.
Antibiotic prescriptions are the predominant prevention and treatment protocol, which has contributed to the increase in drug-resistant pathogens.
The cranberry contains proanthocyanidins (PAC), a type of polyphenol. These “offensive and defensive” nutrients have remarkable antimicrobial and antioxidant potential.
In a research paper 2022, Canadian researchers have found that CAPs can help inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilm in the lining of the urinary tract. They also showed that PACs could discourage the activation of uropathogens E.coli “Early-stage virulence genes in the intestinal reservoir.”
The researchers combed through Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Specialized Register through March 2023. They analyzed the results of randomized controlled trials of cranberry products versus placebos, intervention with antibiotics or probiotics, or no specific treatment for preventing UTIs.
The team added 26 new studies to this update, bringing the total number of studies to 50 with 8,857 participants.
Dr. Stephens shared:
“The studies we reviewed included a range of methods to determine the benefits of cranberry products. The vast majority compared cranberry products to placebo or no treatment for UTIs and determined that consuming cranberries in juice or capsule form reduced the number of UTIs in women. with recurrent cases, in children and in people susceptible to urinary tract infections following medical procedures such as bladder. radiotherapy.”
The study authors found that consumption of cranberry products was strongly associated with a reduced risk of culture-verified symptomatic UTIs in women with recurrent UTIs.
Researchers observed a significant protective benefit in children and people at risk for UTIs due to interventions such as radiation therapy to the bladder.
It was unclear whether cranberry juice, tablets, or different doses of PAC were more effective against UTIs.
Few people have reported side effects from consuming cranberry products. The most common side effect was upset stomach.
However, the study reported that the number of participants experiencing these side effects “probably does not differ between those taking cranberry products and those receiving placebo or no specific treatment.”
The research team noted that more studies are needed to determine which population with UTIs would benefit the most from consuming cranberries.
Dr Stephens warned that: “The data currently available was either limited or inconclusive for the use of cranberry products for the prevention of urinary tract infections in pregnant women, the elderly or people with bladder. More data is needed to be able to provide definitive advice on whether cranberries might be suitable for these groups of people.
In an interview with DTM, Dr Williams added: “In 2012 we had a trial in older people and this time we have three trials with 1,489 people. Our estimate suggests there could be a slight 7% reduction in risk […]but the accuracy is again poor, meaning we can’t be sure this estimate is correct. »
DTM also discussed this study with the urologist Dr. Jennifer Linehan, associate professor of urology and urologic oncology at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. She did not participate in this research.
Dr. Linehan worried that the sugar content of many cranberry juice products might make them useless for preventing UTIs. Still, she noted that “the cranberry itself can help when taken in powder form, as it can again prevent bacteria from binding to the bladder, but can sometimes irritate the bladder lining.”
The urologist mentioned that the supplement powder d-mannose can also stop E.coli to bind to the bladder wall.
DTM spoke with the urologist Dr. S. Adam Ramin, Also. He is the medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Ramin, who was not involved in this study, said “100% pure cranberry juice can help [the] treatment of low-grade and mild urinary tract infections.
“However, pure cranberry juice is very tart and acidic. Most people cannot tolerate drinking it,” he said.
Dr Williams said DTM: “I have been sitting on this result for 2 years. I’m thrilled that this is finally getting out to people who could benefit from it.
She also noted: “A [doctor] can suggest the cranberry for the elderly, I know my [mother’s physician] do. [For] elderly, doctors [may advise] and health seekers themselves can try cranberry. Few people would see much harm in it. It costs a little money, but if it worked for them, it might be money well spent. If it didn’t help you would just stop taking it.
Dr Stephens warned that people with a UTI or recurrent UTIs seek medical advice to see if using cranberry products is right for them.
Dr Williams advised: “I would suggest that if trying cranberry people keep a diary to track symptoms but also keep a sterile jar of urine at home ready to take a sample if symptoms start and go. at their home. [family doctor] or the local hospital with him quickly. Getting antibiotics quickly if a UTI develops is really important.
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