Cranberry-containing products to prevent urinary tract infections
Cranberry-containing products are a folk remedy to prevent UTIs.
Researchers in Taipei and Boston evaluated their value and factors influencing their effectiveness.
First, the details.
- Data from 13 studies, including 1616 patients, were used in a meta-analysis.
- The studies compared prevention of UTIs with cranberry-containing products vs placebo or nonplacebo controls.
- There were no restrictions for language, population, or publication year.
And, the results.
- Cranberry-containing products were more effective than placebo in the following groups.
- Women with recurrent UTIs
- Women
- Children
- Cranberry juice drinkers
- People using cranberry-containing products more than twice daily
The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “Cranberry-containing products are associated with protective effect against UTIs.”
The authors caution that the design of the studies were dissimilar (heterogeneous) and that might affect the findings.
A 2008 Cochrane review reported a favorable effect of cranberry juice in the prevention of symptomatic UTIs in women with recurrent UTIs.
Since then, additional study results make it possible to include other groups.
7/10/12 19:43 JR