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FAMILY PHYSICIANS: CRANBERRIES FOR UTI PREVENTION
The December 2004 issue of American Family Physician provides an assessment by Dr. Darren Lynch of Beth Israel Medical Center (New York) of cranberries’ ability to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). This overview may be particularly of interest for family physicians considering recommending consumption to their patients.

As described in previous issues of Cranberry Health News, current scientific research holds that the mechanism by which cranberries may prevent UTIs is antiadhesion, not acidification. The antiadhesion property prevents bacterial binding to the host cell surface membranes, inhibiting hemagglutination of E. coli and other gram-negative uropathogens by expression of types 1 and P adhesion through the component compounds fructose and proanthocyanidins.
Dr. Lynch notes that two good-quality trials with suitable sample sizes have been published since 2001. The first, a trial of 150 women, compared cranberry/lingonberry juice, probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus GG drink and no intervention for 12 months. The study observed a statistically significant 20 percent reduction in absolute risk of infection in women receiving cranberry. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial, again tracking 150 women over a 12-month period, determined that cranberry juice and cranberry extract tablets significantly decreased the number of patients having at least one symptomatic UTI per year.

As for dosage, while each study has used different doses and formulations of cranberry products, Dr. Lynch’s recommended dosing (based on the most current trial) is one tablet of concentrated cranberry extract (300 to 400 mg) twice daily or eight ounces of pure unsweetened cranberry juice three times daily. The Cranberry Institute notes that a grant from the National Institutes of Health supporting many cranberry studies -- all using the same cranberry formulation -- may help standardize and refine dosing advice in the near future. Other research suggests that even a single daily glass of cranberry juice cocktail can be a helpful preventative.

Dr. Lynch’s analysis concludes that cranberries are a safe botanical medicine, effective in UTI prophylaxis. No significant herb-drug reactions with cranberries have been reported. Cranberries and cranberry products offer an effective, safe and cost-efficient method of preventing UTIs for the general population.

Reference:
Lynch, DM. Cranberry for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections. American Family Physician 2004;70:2175-2177.
Kontiokari, T. Randomised trial of cranberry-lingonberry juice and Lactobacillus CG drink for the prevention of urinary tract infections in women. BMJ 2001;322:1571.
Stothers, L. A randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of naturopathic cranberry products as prophylaxis against urinary tract infection in women. Can J Urol 2002;9:1558-1562.

Article courtesy of The Cranberry Institute

For more information please visit: http://www.cranberryinstitute.org/news/Winter2005_Newsletter.pdf