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. 2000;1998(2):CD001322.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001322.

Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections

Affiliations

Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections

R G Jepson et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000.

Update in

  • Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections.
    Jepson RG, Mihaljevic L, Craig JC. Jepson RG, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Dec 14;12(12):CD001322. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001322.pub2. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023. PMID: 38096261 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Background: Cranberries (particularly in the form of cranberry juice) have been used widely for several decades for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections. The aim of this review is to assess the effectiveness of cranberries in treating such infections.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of cranberries for the treatment of urinary tract infections.

Search strategy: The search strategy developed by the Cochrane Renal Group was used. Also, companies involved with the promotion and distribution of cranberry preparations were contacted; electronic databases and the Internet were searched using English and non English language terms; reference lists of review articles and relevant trials were also searched.

Selection criteria: All randomised or quasi randomised controlled trials of cranberry juice or cranberry products for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Trials of men, women or children were included.

Data collection and analysis: Titles and abstracts of studies that were potentially relevant to the review were screened by one reviewer, RJ, who discarded studies that were clearly ineligible but aimed to be overly inclusive rather than risk losing relevant studies. Reviewers RJ and LM independently assessed whether the studies met the inclusion criteria. Further information was sought from the authors where papers contained insufficient information to make a decision about eligibility.

Main results: No trials were found which fulfilled all of the inclusion criteria. Two trials were excluded because they did not have any relevant outcomes.

Reviewer's conclusions: After a thorough search, no randomised trials which assessed the effectiveness of cranberry juice for the treatment of urinary tract infections were found. Therefore, at the present time, there is no good quality evidence to suggest that it is effective for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Well-designed parallel group, double blind trials comparing cranberry juice and other cranberry products versus placebo to assess the effectiveness of cranberry juice in treating urinary tract infections are needed. Outcomes should include reduction in symptoms, sterilisation of the urine, side effects and adherence to therapy. Dosage (amount and concentration) and duration of therapy should also be assessed. Consumers and clinicians will welcome the evidence from these trials.

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Conflict of interest statement

None known.

References

References to studies excluded from this review

DuGan 1966 {published data only}
    1. DuGan CR, Cardaciootto PS. Reduction of ammonial urinary odors by the sustained feeding of cranberry juice. Journal of Psychiatric Nursing 1966;4(5):467-9.
Nahata 1982 {published data only}
    1. Nahata MC, Cummins B A, McLeod DC. Effect of urinary acidifiers on formaldehyde concentration and efficacy with methenamine therapy. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 1982;22(3):281-4. [MEDLINE: ] - PubMed
    1. Nahata MC, Cummins BA, Mcleod DC, Butler R. Predictability of methenamine efficacy based on type of urinary pathogen and pH. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 1981;29(5):236-9. [MEDLINE: ] - PubMed
    1. Nahata MC, McLeod DC. Lack of effect of ascorbic acid, hippuric acid, and methenamine (urinary formaldehyde) on the copper-reduction glucose test in geriatric patients. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 1980;28(5):230-3. [MEDLINE: ] - PubMed
NCT01861353 {published data only}
    1. Tapiainen T, Salo J. Cranberry-lingonberry Juice started during acute infection in prevention of urinary tract infections in children. www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01861353 (first received 23 May 2013).

References to ongoing studies

NCT00305071 {published data only}
    1. Huang PC. Effect of adjuvant treatment with compound cranberry extract tablets in acute bacterial cystitis. www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00305071 (first received 21 March 2006).

Additional references

Hellstrom 1991
    1. Hellstrom A, Hanson E, Hansson S, Hjalmas K, Jodal U. Association between urinary symptoms at 7 years old and previous urinary tract infection. Archives of Disease in Childhood 1991;66(2):232-4. [MEDLINE: ] - PMC - PubMed
Higgins 2008
    1. Higgins JP, Green S (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.0.0 [updated February 2008]. The Cochrane Collaboration. 2008. Available from www.cochrane-handbook.org.
Jepson 2008
    1. Jepson RG, Craig JC. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No: CD001321. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub3] - DOI - PubMed
Kahn 1967
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McLeod 1978
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    1. Winberg J, Andersen HJ, Bergstrom T, Jacobsson B, Larson H, Lincoln K. Epidemiology of symptomatic urinary tract infection in childhood. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica - Supplement 1974;252:1-20. [MEDLINE: ] - PubMed
Wong 1984
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Zafriri 1989
    1. Zafriri D, Ofek I, Adar R, Pocino M, Sharon N. Inhibitory activity of cranberry juice on adherence of type 1 and type P fimbriated Escherichia coli to eucaryotic cells. Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy 1989;33(1):92-8. [MEDLINE: ] - PMC - PubMed

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