A new, groundbreaking study clarifies why some cranberry supplements are effective at managing recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (2 in 6 months or 3 in 12 months), while others are not, arming healthcare providers with much needed clarity on how to advise their patients. For the first time, scientists confirmed cranberry products made with soluble proanthocyanidins (PACs), demonstrating higher Anti-Adhesion Activity (AAA) of uropathogenic bacteria in urine compared to products with insoluble PAC after intake of the products over a one-week period.
In the study funded by Rutgers University and published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, Rutgers Research Scientist, Amy B. Howell, PhD, Jean-François Dreyfus, MD, PhD, and practicing urologist Bilal Chughtai, MD of Weill Cornell Medicine reported that “water soluble PAC, sourced directly from cranberry juice extract has a direct impact on in vitro and ex vivo AAA of P-fimbriated E. coli bacteria.” The authors explained, “the bacterial AAA of urine following cranberry juice extract consumption interrupts the initial step in the infection process, a potentially important mechanism for UTI prevention. Preventing infection in this way, rather than killing bacteria, may help reduce resistant uropathogenic bacterial strains.”