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Cranberries as capsules do not protect against urinary tract infections
Cranberry products are often recommended as a natural way to prevent annoying urinary tract infections. But do cranberries really have such a protective effect? Researchers have now found out that the consumption of cranberries - contrary to all previous assumptions - no special protection against urinary tract infection.
Researchers from the internationally acclaimed Yale University School of Medicine found in their study that the long-cherished protective effect of cranberries in urinary tract infections is not really there. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Journal of the American Medical Association".
Does consuming cranberry capsules lead to fewer urinary tract infections? Physicians are now studying the effects of cranberry capsule use in older women. (Image: Tim UR / fotolia.com) Cranberry capsules do not result in fewer episodes of urinary tract infection
The experts examined the female residents of some nursing homes for their study. They were able to observe that cranberry capsules do not lead to fewer episodes of urinary tract infection. Other studies have already shown that the consumption of cranberries has no particular benefit in such diseases, explains Dr. med. Manisha Juthani-Mehta.
Are cranberry capsules for infections even useful?
If women like to eat cranberry products or drink cranberry juice, they should continue to do so, says the doctor. However, if these women are taking cranberry capsules only to prevent urinary tract infections, they should be aware of the limited benefits. The use of the capsules does not seem to be really useful, the authors explain in the study.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection:
Urinary tract infections plague women of all ages. But older men also have an increasing risk of developing such an infection, explain the researchers. The disease occurs when bacteria infect the urinary tract. The symptoms of a urinary tract infection are the feeling of a constant need to urinate as well as pain and burning sensation when urinating. But it can also occur low fever and cloudy or bloody urine. In the worst case, an infection can cause various other inconveniences and even spread to the kidneys, warn the doctors.
Many urinary tract infections treated with antibiotics
Research has shown that up to half of all women examined had bacteria in their urine, even if they did not experience any symptoms of infection. To treat the infections, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics. However, the causative germs of the infection thereby develop an increased resistance to these drugs. Thus, the infection is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. For this reason, natural protection has long been advised. Many experts thought that cranberry juice can greatly reduce antibiotic use .
Cranberries affect the pH balance of the urinary tract and bladder?
A frequent suggestion for treatment has therefore been the consumption of high quantities of cranberry juice. It has long been believed that the juice of the berry can change the pH balance of the urinary tract and bladder, explain the scientists. The origins of this home remedy are unclear. A study from 1923 showed that cranberries and plums affect the acidity of urine. Another study claimed in 1994 that cranberry juice has a protective effect in older women, Dr. Juthani-Mehta.
Results of older study are partially contradictory
Since that time, there have been several conflicting studies. Some claimed that cranberry juice or cranberry capsules can prevent infections. Other studies claimed exactly the opposite. A review of 24 studies revealed in 2012 that there is little evidence of efficacy and cranberry juice is therefore not recommended for the prevention of urinary tract infections, the researchers say.
Doctors are studying the effectiveness of cranberry capsules
Cranberry juice is sometimes difficult for older women to drink. This is due, for example, to the taste and the sugar load. For this reason, doctors wanted to test the effectiveness of cranberry capsules, explains Dr. med. Juthani-Mehta. For this purpose, the scientists examined 185 women from different nursing homes. However, only 147 women participants completed the study. More than one-third (31 percent) of women tested positive for bacteriuria and pyuria before starting the study, the experts explain.
Cranberry capsules do not provide any benefits in urinary tract infections
Physicians divided the participating women into two groups. One of the groups received two cranberry capsules daily, the other group took placebos. The research team found no differences in the incidence of bacteriuria and pyuria between the two groups. In addition, there were no differences in urinary tract infections or death rates. There were certainly some women who had problems getting used to the routine of taking cranberry capsules, the authors explain. For this reason, the participants missed some revenue. Nevertheless, Dr. Juthani-Mehta believes that cranberries are ineffective in preventing urinary tract infections. (As)