Cranberry Juice Last updated: Nov 19, 2009

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There is evidence that if you take a glass of cranberry juice a day, it could reduce urinary tract infections (UTI). Cranberry extract is also available in powder form. A study was conducted at the Finnish Student Health Services at Oulu University with 150 women with persistent UTIs. Fifty drank just under 2oz of cranberry juice concentrate per day for six months. Another 50 drank a preparation of Lactobacillus, while the final 50 women were given no treatment. After six months, only eight women taking cranberry juice had experienced a UTI, compared with 19 of those taking Lactobacillus, and 18 not taking anything.

50 milliliters of cranberry juice concentrate seems to be well tolerated and is effective for preventing bladder infections. Larger quantities should be considered when an infection is present. Cranberry cocktail or juice may be very diluted and may produce no benefit if not taken in sufficient quantities to approximate a 50ml (just under 2 ounce) dose of concentrate. Check labels to ensure a high proportion of actual cranberry juice in whatever preparation you choose, or use only concentrate or powder forms.

A single dose of cranberry juice (330ml) decreased urinary pH and increased excretion of oxalic acid in a multi-phase, placebo-controlled study of 12 healthy men. [Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56(10): pp.1020-1023] Other types of juices tested, such as blackcurrant and plum, did not have the same effect.

 
 

Cranberry Juice can help with the following:
 
 
Infections  Cystitis, Bacterial Bladder Infection
 There is evidence to suggest that drinking cranberry juice in addition to water can help fight a bladder infection. Since the mid-1800s, cranberry juice has been associated with urinary antibiotic properties. The juice does not appear to work by acidifying the urine, but rather contains compounds that have a mild antibacterial quality or help prevent E. coli from adhering to tissues. The most widely accepted dose is 3 ounces of 33% pure cranberry juice daily to prevent an infection and 12-32 ounces per day for treatment.

It has been reported that cranberries contain more mannose than any other food. This sugar, D-mannose, blocks E. coli attachment. Since the mannose content in cranberries is relatively low, many natural doctors now use supplemental D-mannose to deal with the most common form of cystitis, an E. coli infection. D-mannose can be used for preventive purposes also, for example, just before and after sexual contact which increases the risk of E. coli infection. The usual dose for powder is 2 1/2 grams stirred into water every 2 to 4 hours during an infection. If the infection is not substantially better within 24 hours, it is probably not being caused by E.coli. Different powders seem to have different concentrations, so read the label for more specifics.

Consumption of 240 mL (1 cup) of cranberry juice cocktail prevented adhesion activity in E. coli isolated from the urine of women with culture-confirmed urinary tract infections. Anti-adhesion activity was evident within 2 hours and lasted up to 10 hours following cranberry juice ingestion. [JAMA 2002;287(23): pp.3082-3083]
 
 


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GLOSSARY

Oxalic Acid:  A substance that when joined with calcium in the body forms insoluble salts and hinders iron absorption from food. It is found in such vegetables as spinach, chard and rhubarb.

oz:  Ounce. Approximately 28 grams.

pH:  A measure of an environment's acidity or alkalinity. The more acidic the solution, the lower the pH. For example, a pH of 1 is very acidic; a pH of 7 is neutral; a pH of 14 is very alkaline.