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Whole cranberry fruit powder supplement reduces the incidence of culture-confirmed urinary tract infections in females with a history of recurrent urinary tract infection: A 6-month multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

W. Stonehouse, B. Benassi-Evans, J. Bednarz, A. Vincent

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2025

11 citations

Abstract

Background High prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTI), including cystitis, and concern for antimicrobial resistance justify safe and effective nonantibiotic therapies for prevention of recurrent UTI (rUTI). Objectives This study investigated the effect of a whole cranberry fruit powder supplement on incidence of culture-confirmed UTI (primary outcome) in females with rUTI history. Methods This multicenter, 6-mo, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study enrolled 150 healthy females [18–65 y, body mass index (BMI) >17.5 and 5 UTIs in the last 6 mo. Participants consumed either 1 capsule of 500 mg/d of whole cranberry powder (Pacran) or placebo. Culture-confirmed UTIs (>108cfu/L) were assessed throughout the intervention period at unscheduled clinic visits whenever participants experienced UTI symptoms and at baseline, 3- and 6-mo clinic visits. Symptomatic suspected UTIs were defined as participant-reported UTI-associated symptoms at unscheduled visits. Results Whole cranberry powder capsules reduced culture-confirmed UTI risk compared with placebo by 52% (adjusted relative risk [RR]: 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26, 0.87; P = 0.01); reduced Escherichia coli UTIs (RR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.24, 1.01; P = 0.05); reduced incidence of UTI with urinary frequency and urgency symptomatology (RR: 0.29; 95% CI:0.13, 0.63; P < 0.01); delayed time to first UTI episode (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.74; P = 0.01); and reduced the mean total number…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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