Cranberry’s Infection Protection Effects Confirmed

Cranberries and cranberry-containing products have long been used as a remedy to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI).  A number of previous studies have suggested this effect is conferred because cranberry compounds inhibit the adherence of uropathogens to uroepithelial cells. Chien-Chang Lee, MD, from the National Taiwan University Hospital (Taiwan), and colleagues, pooled data from 10 studies involving 1,494 subjects, comparing cranberry-product consumers against nonusers.  The researchers found that cranberry consumption had a risk ratio protective against UTI at 0.62. As well, they found that cranberry products were more effective in women with recurrent UTI, female populations, children, regular cranberry juice drinkers, and those who used cranberry products more than twice daily.