Efficacy of D-Mannose in the Management of Urinary Tract Infections: From Acute Treatment to Long-term Prophylaxis — A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of D-mannose for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), including in kidney transplant recipients, and to clarify discrepancies between early openlabel and placebo-controlled trials.Materials and Methods: PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and Web of Science were searched from inception to February 2026. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing D-mannose with placebo, no treatment, antibiotics, or active controls were included. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using RoB 2, and certainty of evidence using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations).Results: Eleven RCT reports involving 1,724 participants were included; 10 independent study populations involving 1,631 participants contributed to quantitative analyses. In placebo-controlled trials, D-mannose did not significantly reduce UTI recurrence or persistence versus placebo (risk ratio [RR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06–2.36). No-treatment comparisons showed reduced recurrence (RR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08–0.66), but were more vulnerable to expectation, performance, and detection biases. The exploratory combined estimate favored D-mannose (RR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.12–0.66), but certainty was very low. Antibiotic comparisons were inconclusive (RR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.18–1.05), whereas proanthocyanidins active-control comparisons favored D-mannose-containing regimens (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.40–0.82),…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,724 participants or records.
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