Cranberry for UTI: The Latest Evidence
October 2023Cranberry remains one of the most commonly used natural medicines for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Help patients understand when it might and might not help.
Overall, the latest data supports previous findings – cranberry might help PREVENT UTIs in some populations, but it doesn’t help TREAT an existing UTI. Specifically, taking cranberry products by mouth might help prevent UTIs in adult females with recurrent UTIs, in children, and in people at risk for developing UTIs after certain surgeries or treatments. It doesn’t seem to offer the same benefits in elderly patients or during pregnancy.
If you’re asked about which cranberry products work best, explain that there still isn’t a clear answer to this. For now, cranberry juice and cranberry extracts seem to be the best bet. Chemicals in cranberry called proanthocyanidins (PACs) keep bacteria like E. coli from sticking to cells that line the urinary tract. PACs from cranberry juice and cranberry extracts seem to be more soluble than PACs from whole cranberry fruit, which might make them more effective against bacteria.
If patients ask why cranberry isn’t a good option for treating an existing UTI, explain that PACs don’t seem to help release bacteria once it’s attached to the urinary tract.
For more details, check out our recently updated monograph.