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Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Odile Bagot (Gynecologist-obstetrician)
Medical validation:
April 21, 2023
While it is often perceived as a simple grandmother’s remedy, cranberries are actually extremely effective in preventing urinary tract infections.
Cranberry has long been touted for its action against urinary tract infections. But until now, the scientific evidence of its effectiveness has remained controversial. Today, a global study released in Cochrane Reviews lets decide: cranberry-based products would indeed reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
Urinary infections: cranberry relieves nearly a third of women
To better understand the effects of cranberry juice (and its variations) on symptomatic UTIs, medical scientists at Flinders University and Westmead Children’s Hospital reviewed 50 randomized trials, including nearly 9,000 participants.
All trials compared the effectiveness of cranberry products with placebo, no treatment or another drug intervention (antibiotics, probiotics).
Result ? Cranberry products reduced in women”more than a quarter“the risk of repeated symptomatic urinary tract infections in children”more than half“and in people at risk of intimate infections following medical interventions”about 53%“.
“This incredible result did not really surprise us (…) Urinary tract infections are painful and very frequent; about a third of women will experience it, as will many older people and also people with bladder problems due to spinal cord injury or other problems“, admits the study’s lead author, Dr. Gabrielle Williams.
This natural remedy would therefore not only be effective, but also essential, according to Dr. Stephens, co-author of the study: if a urinary tract infection lasts without being treated, it can migrate to the kidneys and cause serious complications (sepsis ). Prevention is therefore the most effective way to reduce risks.
Another positive point of cranberry: it would cause very few side effects. The only one, noted by some participants, is a “stomach pain“.
The fruit does not replace antibiotic treatments
Only gray area? It’s hard to say that cranberry juice is more effective than traditional drug treatment.
“We did not find enough information to determine whether cranberry products are more or less effective than antibiotics/probiotics in preventing other UTIs“, says Dr. Jacqueline Stephens.
For his part, Dr. Bagot “validates from a theoretical and practical point of view the cranberry in clinical efficacy; subject to the correct concentration of protocyanosides. Indeed, if we know the exact dose of active ingredients in a cranberry-based nutritional supplement, this is not the case for juices or herbal teas…”
Slide: Urinary tract infections: possible causes