Cranberries were first viewed as a medicinal plant by the Romans who occupied England; they used it to treat a variety of ailments, including gout, gastrointestinal disorders, skin infections scurvy and arthritis. There are 150 species of cranberry, the best known being the American cranberry, or Vaccinium macrocarpon. Cranberry is the fruit of a low-lying shrub that is related to the blueberry and grown in bogs. Cranberry juice is a folk remedy for urinary tract infections, but talk to your doctor before using cranberry juice or supplements for a UTI.
Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is caused by bacteria invading the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra, causing an infection. Bacteria get into the urinary tract via the urethra and spread into the bladder. MayoClinic.com states that women are more prone to getting a UTI, with the infection affecting the urethra or bladder most often. When the infection occurs in the bladder it may be referred to as cystitis; when affecting the urethra, it may be called urethritis. Although cranberry juice is often thought of as an alternative treatment, antibiotics are usually necessary to clear up a UTI.
The Role of Cranberry in UTI
Drinking cranberry juice is effective in preventing a UTI, particularly in women who experience them frequently. A study published in the medical journal "Phytomedicine" concluded that a concentrated cranberry extract supplement proved very effective in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections. Cranberries are high in the antioxidants vitamin C and proanthocyanidins. Besides giving cranberries their deep color, proanthocyanidins appear to work by preventing bacteria such as E. coli from attaching to the cells of the urinary tract, thus inhibiting an infection from occurring.
Conderations
There is no scientific proof that cranberry juice or cranberry supplements can cure a urinary tract infection once bacteria have attached to the cells of the urinary tract. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, while the use of cranberry juice and supplements provide an excellent defense against developing a UTI, cranberry should not be used as a treatment in the place of antibiotics. A UTI should never be left untreated, as it can spread up into the kidneys, causing overwhelming infection and kidney damage.
Cranberry Products
There is no one amount of cranberry juice that works for all women in preventing a UTI. "Newsweek" recommends drinking at least 10 oz. of a juice cocktail containing at least a 30 percent concentration of cranberry daily. Many juices contain loads of sugar because cranberries are quite tart, so look for low-sugar or sugar-free varieties. If you prefer taking cranberry in capsule form, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests 300 to 400 mg daily in divided doses. Talk to your doctor before taking cranberry for prevention of urinary tract infections, especially if you are diabetic or prone to developing kidney stones.
References
- altMD: Cranberry
- MayoClinic.com; Urinary Tract Infection; June 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Cranberry; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; November 2008
- PubMed: "Can a Concentrated Cranberry Extract Prevent Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women?"; D.T Bailey et al.; Arpil 2007
- "Newsweek"; Can Cranberry Juice Cure Urinary Tract Infections?; Karen Springen; February 2008
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