Eating cranberries or drinking its juice to cure or prevent urinary tract infections is a time-proven natural folk remedy that is supported by many scientific studies. Cystitis is the medical term for urinary tract infections, which are estimated to occur in over 20 percent of American women at least once a year. Cystitis is a painful condition that can spread to the bladder and kidneys if not treated, and cranberry juice is a safe alternative to the potential side effects of antibiotic therapy.
Cystitis
Cystitis, or urinary tract infection, is much more common in women and often caused by sexual contact, poor hygiene, contamination of hot tubs or swimming pools and compromised immunity, as cited in "Human Biochemistry and Disease." The infecting pathogen is usually E. coli bacteria, although not the fatal type, which enters the opening of the urethra. Once there, the bacteria proliferate, causing pain and inflammation and often migrate up to the bladder and kidneys. The most common symptom of cystitis is frequent urination eliciting burning pain, although blood in the urine is not uncommon.
Active Components in Cranberry
A number of theories explain why cranberries deter the growth of bacteria in the genitourinary system. Early researchers assumed it was either the high vitamin C content or acidity of cranberries that deterred bacteria, but it appears that cranberries contain substances that disrupt the glue bacteria use to stick to tissue, which makes it difficult for them to get established in the urethra and bladder walls, as cited in "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition." Specifically, cranberries contain alpha-D-mannopyranoside, proanthocyanidins and hippuric acid, which attach to the lectin coating of bacteria and prevent them from sticking.
Research
A landmark 1994 study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" found that women who drank cranberry juice were 58 percent less likely to develop cystitis compared with those who drank a placebo. If the women already had cystitis, then they were 27 percent less likely to have their infections continue if they drank the juice. A 2001 study published in the "Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal" found that consumption of cranberry juice cocktail prevented adhesion of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic E. coli to the tissues of the urethra and bladder in women with cystitis.
Recommendations
Simply drinking lots of filtered water is effective at flushing out bacteria from the genitourinary system, and about ten 8 oz. glasses per day is often recommended. For cranberry juice, drinking at least 8 oz. as soon as symptoms are felt and repeating every three to four hours is often very helpful. Pure, unsweetened cranberry juice is preferred, as sugared varieties may actually encourage the bacterial growth. Cranberry cocktail, which is used in many scientific studies, contains only about 25 percent real juice, as cited in "Contemporary Nutrition." As such, it may be best simply to eat ripe cranberries if no quality juice can be found.
References
- "Professional Guide to Diseases: Ninth Edition"; Springhouse Publishing; 2009
- "Human Biochemistry and Disease"; Gerald Litwack; 2008
- "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition"; Martha Stipanuk; 2006
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Reduction of Bacteriuria and Pyuria after Ingestion of Cranberry Juice; J. Avorn et al; June 1994
- "Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal"; In Vivo Evidence that Cranberry Proanthocyanidins Inhibit Adherence of p-fimbriated E. coli Bacteria to Uroepithelial Cells; A.B. Howell et al; November 2001
- "Contemporary Nutrition"; Gordon M. Wardlaw; 2010
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