Cranberry Products Are Shown to Cut Symptomatic UTIs in Women

Cranberry juice, which is frequently used as a home remedy to treat and prevent urinary tract infection, has been shown in a meta-analysis to reduce significantly the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections in women.

An analysis of four randomized controlled trials, comprising 665 participants, showed that cranberry products significantly reduced the incidence of symptomatic UTI at 12 months, compared with a placebo (relative risk 0.65), and were most effective in women with recurrent UTIs.

Ruth Jepson, senior research fellow at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and associates searched medical databases to identify studies that used cranberry juice or tablets to prevent recurrences of UTI. Ten studies, comprising 1,049 patients, met the reviewers' data-quality standards (Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2008 Jan. 23 [doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub4

In one Scottish study that focused on 376 men and women aged 60 years or older, there was no significant difference in the number of symptomatic UTIs between patients drinking 300 mL/day of cranberry juice and those drinking a placebo beverage.

In a second study of 192 elderly women in the United States randomized to a group drinking 300 mL/day of cranberry juice or a placebo, those in the intervention group were at a reduced risk of asymptomatic infections indicated by bacteriuria with pyuria.

Of two randomized controlled trials that focused on women with symptomatic recurrent lower UTI or with a current UTI, subjects in the intervention arm were at a reduced risk of subsequent infections than that of those in the placebo group.

In catheterized patients, no statistical difference was found between patients in intervention groups or placebo arms either for symptomatic or asymptomatic infections. In a Canadian study of 40 children who had been intermittently catheterized, 89% of those in the intervention group drinking 15 mL/kg a day of a cranberry beverage dropped out, with just over half citing taste as a factor. “The large number of dropouts/withdrawals from some studies [suggests] cranberry juice may not be acceptable over long periods of time.”

In four trials, data showed that cranberry products reduced the incidence of UTI. ©Kerioak/Fotolia.com

Cranberry juice, which is frequently used as a home remedy to treat and prevent urinary tract infection, has been shown in a meta-analysis to reduce significantly the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections in women.

An analysis of four randomized controlled trials, comprising 665 participants, showed that cranberry products significantly reduced the incidence of symptomatic UTI at 12 months, compared with a placebo (relative risk 0.65), and were most effective in women with recurrent UTIs.

Ruth Jepson, senior research fellow at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and associates searched medical databases to identify studies that used cranberry juice or tablets to prevent recurrences of UTI. Ten studies, comprising 1,049 patients, met the reviewers' data-quality standards (Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2008 Jan. 23 [doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub4

In one Scottish study that focused on 376 men and women aged 60 years or older, there was no significant difference in the number of symptomatic UTIs between patients drinking 300 mL/day of cranberry juice and those drinking a placebo beverage.

In a second study of 192 elderly women in the United States randomized to a group drinking 300 mL/day of cranberry juice or a placebo, those in the intervention group were at a reduced risk of asymptomatic infections indicated by bacteriuria with pyuria.

Of two randomized controlled trials that focused on women with symptomatic recurrent lower UTI or with a current UTI, subjects in the intervention arm were at a reduced risk of subsequent infections than that of those in the placebo group.

In catheterized patients, no statistical difference was found between patients in intervention groups or placebo arms either for symptomatic or asymptomatic infections. In a Canadian study of 40 children who had been intermittently catheterized, 89% of those in the intervention group drinking 15 mL/kg a day of a cranberry beverage dropped out, with just over half citing taste as a factor. “The large number of dropouts/withdrawals from some studies [suggests] cranberry juice may not be acceptable over long periods of time.”

In four trials, data showed that cranberry products reduced the incidence of UTI. ©Kerioak/Fotolia.com

Cranberry juice, which is frequently used as a home remedy to treat and prevent urinary tract infection, has been shown in a meta-analysis to reduce significantly the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections in women.

An analysis of four randomized controlled trials, comprising 665 participants, showed that cranberry products significantly reduced the incidence of symptomatic UTI at 12 months, compared with a placebo (relative risk 0.65), and were most effective in women with recurrent UTIs.

Ruth Jepson, senior research fellow at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and associates searched medical databases to identify studies that used cranberry juice or tablets to prevent recurrences of UTI. Ten studies, comprising 1,049 patients, met the reviewers' data-quality standards (Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2008 Jan. 23 [doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub4

In one Scottish study that focused on 376 men and women aged 60 years or older, there was no significant difference in the number of symptomatic UTIs between patients drinking 300 mL/day of cranberry juice and those drinking a placebo beverage.

In a second study of 192 elderly women in the United States randomized to a group drinking 300 mL/day of cranberry juice or a placebo, those in the intervention group were at a reduced risk of asymptomatic infections indicated by bacteriuria with pyuria.

Of two randomized controlled trials that focused on women with symptomatic recurrent lower UTI or with a current UTI, subjects in the intervention arm were at a reduced risk of subsequent infections than that of those in the placebo group.

In catheterized patients, no statistical difference was found between patients in intervention groups or placebo arms either for symptomatic or asymptomatic infections. In a Canadian study of 40 children who had been intermittently catheterized, 89% of those in the intervention group drinking 15 mL/kg a day of a cranberry beverage dropped out, with just over half citing taste as a factor. “The large number of dropouts/withdrawals from some studies [suggests] cranberry juice may not be acceptable over long periods of time.”

In four trials, data showed that cranberry products reduced the incidence of UTI. ©Kerioak/Fotolia.com