Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections
Williams G, Hahn D, Stephens JH, Craig JC, Hodson EM
Published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Methodology
Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized trials comparing cranberry products with placebo, no treatment, or other prophylaxis; primary outcome was symptomatic, culture-verified UTI.
Key Findings
Pooling randomized trials, cranberry products reduced the risk of symptomatic, culture-verified urinary tract infections, with the clearest benefit in women with recurrent UTIs, children, and people at risk after an intervention; no benefit was evident in elderly institutionalised populations or those with bladder-emptying problems.
Conclusions
Cranberry products reduce the risk of symptomatic, culture-verified UTIs in susceptible groups.
Limitations
Variable cranberry products and dosing, incomplete outcome reporting and high dropout in several trials, and low-certainty evidence in some subgroups.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
Access Study
Disclosures
Funding
Cochrane Kidney and Transplant; no commercial sponsorship reported.
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