Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are the second most common type of infection, affecting millions of people every year. They occur more frequently in women and are due to bacteria from the digestive tract attaching to the urethra and multiplying. This common condition has led to a search for natural treatments such as cranberry juice. Talk to your doctor before taking cranberry juice for urinary tract infections.
History
Cranberry is one of the few fruits native to North America. Originally, Native Americans treated bladder and kidney ailments with ripe cranberries. Records from the 17th century reveal cranberries were a common treatment for a variety of diseases. In fact, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, cranberries were a popular treatment for UTIs until the introduction of antibiotics.
Cranberry as Treatment
Unfortunately, according to AAFP, a recent review of scientific studies found there are no good quality trials assessing the effectiveness of cranberry juice in the treatment of UTIs. Due to this lack of evidence, MayoClinic.com suggests that antibiotics, with their proven efficacy, remain the first line of treatment for urinary tract infections.
Cranberry as Prevention
A 2002 study in the "Canadian Journal of Urology" reports that two cranberry tablets, or three 1-cup glasses of cranberry juice per day, significantly decreased the number of women who got a UTI infection over the period of one year. Therefore, although cranberry juice may not treat an infection once you have it, it may be able to prevent you from getting a UTI in the first place.
Considerations
The Mayo Clinic reports that despite the lack evidence supporting cranberry juice as a treatment for UTIs, the safety of moderate amounts of cranberry juice in non-chronically ill individuals means it is safe to take in combination with antibiotic treatment for UTIs. However, do not drink cranberry juice if you take the blood-thinning medication warfarin, as taking the two together may cause bleeding.
References
- National Kidney & Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse: Urinary Tract Infections in Adults
- AFP: Cranberry for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections
- Mayo Clinic: Cranberry
- "Canadian Journal of Urology": A randomized trial to evaluate effectiveness and cost effectiveness of naturopathic cranberry products as prophylaxis against urinary tract infection in women
- Mayo Clinic: Urinary Tract Infection
