Consuming cranberry juice is a treatment strategy for many women who suffer from urinary tract infections, and new research shows that consuming cranberry juice, as well as cranberry products, is effective in preventing UTIs.
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub6
A study examining the benefits of cranberry juice and its products found that cranberry juice, as well as cranberry supplements, reduced the risk of recurrent UTIs by more than 25% in women, by more than 50% in children, and in sensitized people, about 53%.
Cranberry juice, as well as supplements that typically contain cranberry, including tablets and capsules, have been recognized as an affordable solution for the infection, but a 2012 review of data from 24 studies found no benefit from cranberry products.
For this updated review, researchers determined the effectiveness of cranberry products by reviewing 50 more recent studies involving nearly 9,000 individuals.
UTIs are unpleasant and very common. A 3rd of women will be infected, as well as approximately very elderly individuals, as well as individuals with bladder problems or other disorders.
A persistent untreated UTI can infect the kidneys and lead to pain and more complications such as sepsis in severe cases, so the most effective way to reduce the risks is prevention.
Most UTIs can be treated effectively and quickly with antibiotics, sometimes with just one dose. Unfortunately, in some individuals, UTIs keep coming back.
Native Americans reportedly used cranberries hundreds of years ago for bladder problems, prompting researchers to find out what component of cranberries helped.
The studies that the researchers studied included a variety of methods to determine the benefits of cranberry products. Most studies have compared the product to a placebo or no UTI treatment, and have found that consuming cranberry juice or capsules reduces the number of UTIs in women with recurrent UTIs, as well as in children and in people who have been exposed to UTIs. in: medical treatment that includes radiotherapy to the bladder.
Notably, most people reported no side effects, the most common of which was abdominal pain, according to the results. The researchers also did not find adequate information to determine whether cranberry products are more or less effective than antibiotics or probiotics in preventing recurrent UTIs.
The results also show no benefit for the elderly, pregnant women, or individuals with bladder emptying problems.
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