For many women, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are all too familiar. These annoying and painful episodes can come on quickly. Frequent trips to the bathroom, painful urination and lower back discomfort can curtail social activities and interfere with work. The answer was always a trip to the doctor for another round of antibiotics. It is well known that regular intake of cranberry may lower the incidence of UTIs.
Does Cranberry really help? Cranberry's health benefits are now beginning documented by good science. It was always thought that cranberry made the urine more acidic, thus reducing the bacteria count. We now know that this is not so. Cranberry's effectiveness comes from its ability to prevent bacterial from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract and bladder, where they multiply and cause infection.
What prevents bacteria from sticking and multiplying? Escherichia coli (or E. coli), the bacteria responsible for most UTIs, produce adhesions, substances that help the bacteria sick to the epithelial cells that line the urinary tract. Once they stick they multiply and spread infection. Compounds in cranberry prevent E. coli from sticking in the first place, reducing the number and length of infections. One anti-sticking factor in cranberry is fructose; the other is not so easily identified, but is only found in cranberries and blueberries. Only blueberry and cranberry have the right chemical factors that effectively disable the adhesion of infectious germs.
Harvard researchers studied over 153 older women, average age 79. Half were given 10 ounces of cranberry juice everyday and the other half were given a look-alike drink containing no cranberry. The researchers discovered that the women who drank cranberry juice were 58% less likely to have infection-causing levels of bacteria in their urine than those who had no cranberry were juice. Cranberry juice seemed to help existing infections, and may have prevented new one from occurring. Thirteen samples of cranberry juice were tested for their ability to prevent E. coli from sticking. All cranberry juice samples inhibited E. coli adhesion whereas none of the placebo samples had any effect. The Harvard study is good news for older women who are more likely to have higher levels of E. coli in their urinary tract, increasing their risk to UTIs.
How much should I take? Well Known author and naturopathic doctor, Donald Brown, suggests one capsule of cranberry extract (300-4-mg) in the morning and one in the evening, accompanied by plenty of water. Encapsulated extract usually provides equal or better antiadherence performance and is lower in sugar than cranberry juice drinks. The extract provides a practical alternative for those not willing to drink several glasses daily of cranberry juice.
Not for women only. While women seem to suffer more frequently from urinary tract infections, cranberry may help men as well. Men with enlarged prostates may have more difficulty emptying their bladder completely, giving bacteria ample time to attach themselves and multiply.
Is it safe? Cranberry is very safe with no contraindications or side effects. However, taking cranberries alone does not substitute for a trip to the doctor if you suspect a UTI. While cranberries may lower the risk of UTI recurrence and diminish numbers of E. coli, they do not replace antibiotics when they are needed.