x
  • Bookmark and ShareShare
  • Earn Points
    What's this?
Cranberries may not help prevent UTIs after all
New study finds that cranberries and cranberry juice offer little to no benefit in preventing urinary tract infections.
Wed, Oct 17 2012 at 12:29 PM
 3
Cranberries

Photo by muffet1/sxc.hu

Do you remember a post that I wrote back in July about the latest study that confirmed that cranberry juice could help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)?  Yeah, well - guess what?  A new study out today draws the opposite conslusion, finding that drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills may do little to prevent UTIs.
 
What can I tell you?  I don't write these studies, I just report on them.  So I'm just as confused as you are by this study from researchers at Scotland's University of Stirling.  
 
According to this study, which is actually a review of 24 previous studies on cranberries and UTIs, the fruit does little to help prevent the occurence of a UTI.  The study was published this month in the Cochrane Databse of Systematic Review.  The review anaylazed 24 studies overall, involving almost 5,000 participants, and concluded that any benefit from cranberries in preventing UTIs is minimal and most likely only helpful to women with recurrent UTIs.  
 
So which study would you say is right?  Do you think cranberries can help prevent a urinary tract infection?  Your guess is as good as mine!

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

You might also like:

Join the conversation

Comments: 3
Sign in with one of these accounts to add your comment.
anonymous
Amy Howell PhD Oct 18 2012 at 2:54 PM
I have been doing research at Rutgers University for the past 20 years and have found that cranberries prevent bacteria from sticking to bladder cells, which is the initial step in the urinary tract infection process. I think we need to keep these latest findings in perspective with the totality of cranberry research that has been done over the last 100 years. This latest review analyzed results from some of the clinical trials, using criteria that apply to studies on drug treatments. Cranberry
.... More
is a food that comes in different forms (juices, powders, dried, etc.) making it difficult to compare results from different trials because the same form and dosage of cranberry were not used in each study. Interestingly, three new UTI clinical studies, published after this report was prepared, have shown significant benefits in children, with as much as a 65% reduction in UTIs and reduced use of antibiotics. Cranberries in many forms are enjoyed by millions of people globally on a daily basis. If women are currently consuming cranberry products, the results of this one review do not provide a reason for them to change their current practices. It is important that cranberry continue to be regarded and researched as a viable means to help address the public health challenge that UTIs and their treatment presents to antibiotic resistance. The effects of the studies are clinically important to the 15 million women in the US with UTIs each year. - Amy Howell, PhD
|
ideas4health.in's picture
ideas4health.in Oct 18 2012 at 8:57 AM
According to the recent study, cranberries juice might produce little effect for the prevention of Urinary Tract Infections. I agree with this opinion. However, I thought that cranberries juice are very helpful for blocking the formation of calculus in kidneys and as such it is one of the best fruits for the health of kidneys. According to another study, due to the presence of antibacterial property cranberries juice prevents peptic ulcers as it promotes probiotic bacteria in GI Tract and improves
.... More
oral health as it kills bacteria in the mouth. Cranberries juice is also helpful for Cardiovascular health as it reduces LDL cholesterol and improves HDL Cholesterol levels due to the presence of antioxidants.
|
anonymous
Guest Oct 18 2012 at 10:38 AM

Cranberries definitely works for me and other women who have tried it. Not sure if the study was done with concentrate, unsweetened juice diluted with water. Certainly if it's a severe infection then medical attention is needed. I live in Germany and at the pharmacy this is what they recommend 100% unsweetened cranberry juice.

|

EDITORS' PICKS

tease AnoNuevo

line

tease cars

line

tease fitness story

Advertisement
From our sponsor

Advertisement

NEWSLETTER

Mother Nature. Delivered
Advertisement