Cranberry juice for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections

Abstract

There is widespread belief that cranberry juice can treat urinary tract infections (UTIs). There is no conclusive evidence from either in vitro or in vivo studies to confirm this. However, there is strong in vitro and in vivo evidence confirming the hypothesis that UTIs can be prevented by decreasing bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells. For people with recurrent uncomplicated UTIs, routine utilization of cranberry products may offer an alternative methodology to antibiotic prophylaxis.