Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections

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#male #female #child #humans #vaccinium-macrocarpon

Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections

Jepson et al., 2023 | Cochrane Database Syst Rev | Systematic Review

Citation

Jepson Ruth G, Mihaljevic Lara, Craig Jonathan C. Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023-Dec-14;12(12):CD001322. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001322.pub2

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 (UTIs). 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 UTIs. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Register of Studies up to 1 August 2023 through contact with the Information Specialist using search terms relevant to this review. Studies in the Register are identified through searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Registry Portal (ICTRP) Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs of cranberry juice or cranberry products for the treatment of UTIs. Studies of men, women or children were to be included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Titles and abstracts of studies that were potentially relevant to the review were screened and studies that were clearly ineligible were discarded. Further information was sought from the authors where papers contained insufficient information to make a decision about eligibility. MAIN RESULTS: No studies were found that fulfilled all of our inclusion criteria. Seven studies were excluded because they were the wrong study design, mixed interventions or did not report any relevant outcomes. One study is ongoing; however, its current status is unknown. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: After a thorough search, no RCTs which assessed the effectiveness of cranberry juice for the treatment of UTIs were found. Therefore, at the present time, there is no good quality evidence to suggest that it is effective for the treatment of UTIs. Well-designed parallel-group, double-blind studies comparing cranberry juice and other cranberry products versus placebo to assess the effectiveness of cranberry juice in treating UTIs are needed. Outcomes should include a reduction in symptoms, sterilisation of the urine, side effects and adherence to therapy. The dosage (amount and concentration) and duration of therapy should also be assessed. Consumers and clinicians will welcome the evidence from these studies.

Key Findings

No studies were found that fulfilled all of our inclusion criteria. Seven studies were excluded because they were the wrong study design, mixed interventions or did not report any relevant outcomes. One study is ongoing; however, its current status is unknown. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: After a thorough search, no RCTs which assessed the effectiveness of cranberry juice for the treatment of UTIs were found. Therefore, at the present time, there is no good quality evidence to suggest that it is effect

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Male
  • Female
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Vaccinium macrocarpon
  • Phytotherapy
  • Beverages
  • Urinary Tract Infections
  • Kidney
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: cochrane-cranberry

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09