The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Cranberry' Category

Is the risk of a cranberry juice and warfarin interaction significant?

Monday, August 5th, 2013

CranberryHoWA researcher from Bangalore, India, reviewed the evidence and sees a difference between what’s seen in the lab and what’s reported in practice.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Cranberry-containing products to prevent urinary tract infections

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

Cranberry-containing products are a folk remedy to prevent UTIs.

Researchers in Taipei and Boston evaluated their value and factors influencing their effectiveness. (more…)

Everything you wanted to know about cranberry

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

Drs. Catherine Neto and Joe Vinson from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and the University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania, contributed a chapter on cranberry in the textbook, Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition, 2011.

Most of the chapter is detailed biochemistry — their specialty. But, they also review the status of cranberry in cancer therapy and managing urinary tract infections.

Let’s focus on urinary tract infections. (more…)

Effects of cranberry polyphenols on dental health

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Several studies report that the polyphenols (a source of antioxidants) in cranberries have properties that may be beneficial for treating and/or preventing dental caries and periodontal disease.

Researchers at Laval University, in Quebec, summarized the scientific evidence supporting the potential of cranberry polyphenols to prevent and/or treat diseases of the mouth. (more…)

Use of herbal supplements by pregnant women

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

Researchers at the University of Oslo, in Norway, studied the use of herbal supplements by pregnant Norwegian women. (more…)

Cranberries vs antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infection

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Concern over the risk of resistance to antimicrobial agents has stimulated interest in cranberries to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Researchers in the Netherlands compared trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (Septra, Bactrim) to cranberry capsules. (more…)

Cranberry juice to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection

Monday, June 20th, 2011

Catheter-associated bacteriuria is the most common healthcare–associated infection worldwide. It’s due to the widespread use of urinary catheterization.

An Expert Panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America reviewed the evidence and made recommendations to minimize this risk. Here’s what they say about cranberry juice. (more…)

The final word on the warfarin-cranberry interaction?

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

“The warning that there is a potential to enhance the effect of warfarin… with cranberry juice intake is mostly based on faulty reports.”

That’s the conclusion by researchers at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. (more…)

The risk of thrombocytopenia with CAM

Friday, March 4th, 2011

When the number of platelets in the blood is low — thrombocytopenia — it’s more difficult for blood to clot. Early signs of thrombocytopenia include bruising, and bleeding from the nose or into the gastrointestinal tract.

Researchers from the College of Medicine University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, in Oklahoma City reviewed interactions between platelets and CAM, herbals, nutritional supplements, foods, and beverages. (more…)

Cranberry juice fails to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, in Ann Arbor, recorded the effects in college women presenting with an acute urinary tract infection (UTI). (more…)

Effect of cranberry extract on lipids

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

Researchers from the Taichung Veterans General Hospital, in Taiwan examined the effect of cranberry ingestion on cholesterol in Type 2 diabetic patients taking anti-diabetes medicine. (more…)

Review: Cranberry and urinary tract infections in spinal cord injury patients

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Urinary tract infections are the most common medical complication in people with spinal cord injury.

Researchers at the University of Guelph, in Ontario, reviewed the evidence for cranberry to prevent or treat these infections and found it lacking. (more…)

Effectiveness of cranberry in people with ileal enterocystoplasty

Friday, July 30th, 2010

A diseased urinary bladder with low capacity and low compliance (ability to urinate) may require ileal enterocystoplasty (remove a part of the small intestine and attach it to the bladder to enlarge it and improve function [photo]).

Researchers at Hospital Foch, in Suresnes, France, studied a cranberry preparation with high levels of proanthocyanidin A (inhibits bacteria from sticking to tissue) to prevent repeated bacteriuria in people with an ileal enterocystoplasty. (more…)

Effect of high-dose cranberry juice on warfarin

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Researchers at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, in Prescott, Arizona report that no interaction occurred.

How should we consider these findings in light of other research showing an interaction? (more…)

Warfarin and cranberry interaction

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia investigated the possible impact of two commonly used herbal medicines, garlic and cranberry, on the anticoagulant, warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)

Cranberry juice to prevent urinary tract infections in children

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

CranberryHoWCranberry juice was compared to Lactobacillus in children with recurrent urinary tract infections by researchers at the Catholic University, in Rome, Italy. (more…)

Safety of cranberry during pregnancy and lactation

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Women experience urinary tract infections with greater frequency during pregnancy.

It’s not clear if cranberries are helpful to prevent urinary tract infections, but since many people think they are, it’s worth taking a look. (more…)

Is there a cranberry:beta-lactam interaction?

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

 Drinking cranberry juice is often recommended along with taking low-dose antibiotics to prevent recurrent urinary tract infection.

Researchers from the University of Washington, in Seattle evaluated the potential risk of an interaction between cranberry juice and the β-lactam antibiotics, amoxicillin (amoxicilline, Amoxil) and cefaclor (Ceclor) that might lower the effectiveness of the antibiotics. (more…)

Review: Cranberry and urinary tract infections

Saturday, May 16th, 2009

Dr. David Guay from the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis has reviewed the evidence. (more…)

How do cranberries prevent urinary tract infection?

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Massachusetts went into the lab to seek the answer. (more…)