Does Cranberry Juice Work?

Cranberry juice has been a popular home remedy for treating the symptoms of urinary infections for many years. Is it all an old wives’ tale? Research has shown that substances found in the cranberry may prevent bacteria, such as E. coli, from sticking to the cells lining the urinary tract and thus causing infection; this is not a proven fact, however.

A Cochrane Review, updated in 2007, analyzed results from 10 cranberry studies that included a total of over 1,000 people. Cranberry juice or cranberry-lingonberry juice was compared with placebo, juice, or water in 7 studies, and cranberry tablets versus placebo in 4 studies (one study evaluated both juice and tablets). (Ligonberries are a Swedish specialty, and are hard to find or grow in the USA .)

Overall, over the course of a year, cranberry juice decreased the frequency of recurring urinary tract infections by more than a third. The benefit was less obvious in older people and in those requiring catheterization, and who were therefore at risk of infection.

The reviewers found that many people in the trials stopped drinking the juice, suggesting it wasn’t too popular. However, there was evidence that more people were helped by cranberry juice than by placebo. Unfortunately no advice can be given regarding the dose and duration of treatment necessary. Tablets containing cranberry extract may be less likely to work, as they may have lost some important ingredients during preparation. . .

Comments

[Flo]

I love cranberry juice, and am a firm believer in its curative qualities, especially for women, and here's so more pretty good general info on that ( http://dsib.org/uti ) I just love it when something this natural and transparently wholesome is actually quite good for you. While I like it, I know plenty of women who do not, but that shouldn't prevent one from getting its benefits... i often mix cranberry juice with other kinds of juice, and i believe there are equally effect powders/supplements out there if you just don;t like it at all...

a love of berries in general, well yes, they are all wonderful for me... what do ligonberries compare to the we US'ers might have an idea of?