Cranberry-containing products have
long been used as a folk remedy to prevent UTIs.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is
one of the most commonly acquired bacterial infections affecting up to 40% to
50% of women at least once in their lifetimes. Pregnant women, the elderly, and
patients with neuropathic bladder are also at increased risk for developing
UTIs.
Cranberry was originally thought to
work by acidifying the urine, but its effects are now known to be due to its
interference with the attachment of bacteria to uroepithelial cells. In fact,
A-type proanthocyanidins were identified in cranberry in 1989 as compounds with
the potential to inhibit the adherence of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli to the
urogenital mucosa.
Dr. Chih-Hung Wang and colleagues
from the National Taiwan University College of analyzed 10 trials with a total
of 1494 participants (794 in the cranberry groups and 700 in the control
groups). Their findings indicate that cranberry-containing products are
associated with protective effect against UTIs.
Cranberry juice was more effective
than cranberry capsules. The authors write that this could be due to increased
hydration from drinking the juice or the effects of unknown substances in the
juice. The authors acknowledge that drinking large quantities of juice could be
problematic for some individuals, including patients with diabetes and those
with gastrointestinal issues.
A dosing frequency of more than
twice daily was more effective. "Because in vitro data have suggested that
the antiadhesion activity of cranberry juice on fimbriated E coli lasts for
approximately 8 hours after ingestion, dosing more frequently than twice daily
may be a reasonable choice," write the authors.
Because there was substantial
heterogeneity among the studies, the results of the analysis should be viewed
with caution, the researchers say.
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