The study also excluded people who may be most susceptible to urine infections. Because the urethra and anus of women are very close, bacteria found in the lower intestine—like E. coli—released through the anus can migrate into the urethra, leading to an infection. The study had a good sample size, reasonably long testing period, was double-blind, including reportedly identical tasting-and-smelling placebo. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial such as this is the best way of investigating this theory. Nearly two in every three women will experience a UTI at some point in their lives, and about a quarter of them will suffer a recurrence within six months. If you've ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), there's a good chance you have tried to treat it yourself with cranberry. The researchers say their findings, "suggest that the consumption of cranberry is a useful strategy for reducing recurrent clinical UTI episodes and antibiotic use". If you find yourself having repeated UTIs or persistent symptoms such as pain or irritation, or blood in your urine, then contact your GP. The only difference in side effects between groups was at two months, when nausea was reportedly more common in the placebo group (5.9% vs. 1.6% of participants in the cranberry group). If you want to get the most nutrition possible from cranberry juice, experts recommend you get it strong and straight—without much processing. Cranberry juice is a very high-sugar drink that also contains a lot of additives. What make cranberry juice such an attractive natural treatment for UTIs are the concentrations of powerful flavonoid and phenolic compounds. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org. spinal injuries), and those over 70 (thereby excluding many infirm people, care home residents, etc.). The researchers estimated that, on average, for every woman who drank cranberry juice for 3.2 years, just one UTI would be prevented. Stapleton, A., et al., “Recurrent urinary tract infection and urinary Escherichia coli in women ingesting cranberry juice daily: a randomized controlled trial,” Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Feb. 2012; 87(2):143-50; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3497550/ , last accessed July 24, 2017. 10 Ways to Control Blood Sugar without Medication. Pure cranberry juice, cranberry extract, or cranberry supplements may help prevent repeated UTIs in women, but the benefit is small. These compounds all present nearly the exact benefits to keep the proliferation of bacteria at bay and diminish symptoms. However, the decision to try cranberry juice or not will need to remain an individual one. In fact, this study used a less additive-laden version with a shorter shelf life that is not commercially available. It helps about as much as taking antibiotics to prevent another UTI. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Close menu. Have A Gl Of Pomegranate Juice Every Day To Can Keep Uti At Bay Times India. This trended towards significance (0.078) but did not reach statistical significance. Cranberry Juice for UTIs: Natural Remedy or Major Myth? The study excluded women who needed to take preventative antibiotics and others who may be at a higher risk of UTIs, such as those with indwelling catheters, any problems or abnormalities of the urinary tract, those with sensory problems (e.g. Adjusting for antibiotic use during UTIs did not significantly affect the results. "Drinking cranberry juice could reduce the worldwide use of antibiotics," is the somewhat optimistic headline in The Daily Telegraph. Home » Women's Health » Cranberry Juice for UTIs: Natural Remedy or Major Myth? Overall, the researchers estimated that cranberry juice would prevent roughly one symptomatic UTI per three women per year ("One clinical UTI event was prevented for every 3.2 woman years"). They attended planned clinic assessments at two, four and six months, but if they experienced UTI symptoms at any time they contacted the research centre to attend for another assessment. Cranberries have often been proposed to have benefits in protecting against UTIs (a claim thought to date back to Native American tradition). “There is an active ingredient in cranberries that can prevent adherence of bacteria to the bladder wall, particularly E. … Other outcomes included the incidence of UTI with positive urine test, and side effects. Participants kept a daily diary to record any UTI symptoms. Barbosa-Cesnik C, et al. Patel, K., “Cranberry juice for UTIs: natural remedy or old wives’ tale?” Examine, July 13, 2017; https://examine.com/nutrition/cranberry-juice-for-utis/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blog-071317, last accessed July 24, 2017. It will taste stronger, tarter, and be more viscous, but that’s just how natural juices are. The study had a good sample size, duration of follow-up, regular assessments, and participants and researchers were unaware of the study group. Women with a current UTI and those taking preventative antibiotics were excluded. And the most noted meta-analysis used shows a small, yet positive effect of drinking cranberry juice on UTIs, but most other studies have failed to show a positive effect. This was a randomised controlled trial aiming to looking at the effects of drinking cranberry juice on episodes of UTIs in women. Menu Therefore, people may need to individually consider whether the potential benefits of daily consumption of a high-sugar drink in the long term are worth it. It does not show that if you have an actual urine infection you are better off just drinking cranberry juice, as it is better or just as good at clearing the infection as antibiotics. Besides, it is also free from side-effects and does not harm a person even if they exceed its prescribed dosage. Compliance was assessed by asking participants to return all used and unused bottles at the end of the study – and was 98%. The study had a good sample size, duration of follow-up, regular assessments, and participants and researchers were unaware of the study group. Two of the study authors work for the firm. Overall, the research does not seem to support the notion that cranberry juice is an effective natural treatment for UTI, and looks like its usefulness in treating UTI is more medical myth than reality. Women with an actual infection still needed to take antibiotics. While there is no suggestion of obvious bias, the study is vulnerable to accusations of a conflict of interests, due to an unconscious bias on the part of the company's employees. That's a lot of cranberry juice. Cranberry juice fails to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection: Results from a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pure cranberry juice, cranberry extract, or cranberry supplements may help prevent repeated UTIs in women, but the benefit is small. This meant that cranberry juice reduced the incidence of UTIs by over a third (rate ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41 to 0.91). Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Although cranberry juice has been rather widely studied, results about whether it will help with UTIs are mixed. © 1995-2020 Healthwise, Incorporated. If you do want to try cranberry juice to prevent UTIs, it's better to drink pure, unsweetened cranberry juice (rather than cranberry juice cocktail). This seems quite a bold claim, given the modest effects reported in the study. Lets see what the research says. A urinary tract infection is basically a bacterial infection in any part of your urinary system, but most typically occurs in the lower urinary tract areas like the bladder or urethra. Cranberry Juice and Urinary Tract Infections, E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine, COVID-19: Masks are required throughout all facilities. (2012). The study found that cranberry juice seemed to prevent the incidence of urine infection symptoms. Scientists report that within eight hours of drinking cranberry juice, the juice could help prevent bacteria from developing into an infection in the urinary tract. It is estimated that half of all women will get a UTI at least once in their life, so the occasional infection is not usually a cause for concern. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Jepson RG, et al. More on that, in a bit. Also, if they put lemon juice in their water and feel better, they think the lemon juice acidified their urine. With confirmation by urine dipstick, there were 32 infections vs. 53. Published online June 2016, How juice companies game science to perpetuate the myth that cranberry prevents UTIs. There is no proof that cranberry can cure a UTI. There is limited proof that this is worth trying. The compounds in cranberries of particular interest include flavonoids and tannins. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. At assessments, urine samples were collected and tested. One of the most widely held beliefs about UTIs is that drinking cranberry juice (or taking cranberry supplements) can prevent and get rid of them. Is Cranberry Pomegranate Juice Good For Uti. But cranberry juice does not provide a sufficiently concentrated form, if any, of the necessary ingredient. Therefore, this study provides no evidence that cranberry juice is effective in higher-risk women. Cranberries contain PACs, which help prevent urinary tract infections.