The latest findings from The Cochrane Library
There
is some evidence that cranberry juice may decrease the number of
occasions when people notice they have a urinary tract infection (UTI),
a Cochrane Systematic Review has found. This is particularly the case
for those who have recurrent UTIs.
UTIs are one of the most
common reasons why people seek outpatient medical treatment, and lead
to over one million hospital admissions a year in the USA alone.
Cranberries, and particularly cranberry juice, have been used for
decades as a means of preventing or treating UTIs. The mechanism of
action is unsure. One theory is that molecules in the juice may make it
harder for bacteria such as E. coli to stick to surfaces, and therefore
make it difficult for an infection to build up.
A team of
Cochrane Researchers set out to establish whether there was good
evidence that cranberries were effective. They identified 10 studies
that included a total of 1,049 participants. The trials compared
various combinations of cranberry products, placebos and water.
They
found some evidence that cranberry juice and capsules could prevent
recurrent infections in women, although there was no evidence of
benefit in elderly men or elderly women. In addition, cranberry juice
had no benefit for people using catheters.
“It’s worth noting
that many people in the trials stopped drinking the juice, suggesting
that it may not suit everyone’s taste, or it may be too burdensome and
costly to drink the two recommended glasses a day,” says lead
researcher Ruth Jepson who works at the Department of Nursing and
Midwifery, University of Stirling, UK.
“We now need to
discover how much a person needs to drink, and how long it needs to be
used before the juice starts to have an effect,” says Jepson.
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***SEE WWW.COCHRANE.ORG/PODCASTS FOR A PODCAST BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS REVIEW, AVAILABLE FROM WEDNESDAY 23RD JANUARY 2008***
Contact: Jennifer Beal
jbeal@wiley.com
44-012-437-70633
Wiley-Blackwell
