Takaisin Tulosta

Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Evidence summaries
Editors
Last reviewed as up-to-date 8.12.2023Latest change 8.12.2023

Level of evidence: B↑

Cranberry juice appears to decrease the number of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women with recurrent UTIs compared to placebo.

Weak recommendation for using an intervention:

The use of cranberry juice is suggested for the prevention of recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infections as the first choice over antibiotic prophylaxis.

The recommendation attaches a relatively high value to avoiding the development of antibiotic resistance in the community.

A Cochrane review «Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections»1 «» included 50 studies with a total of 8 857 participants. Cranberry products were effecting for preventing UTIs which cause symptoms in women with frequent UTIs and in children with UTIs (table «Any cranberry product versus placebo or control for preventing urinary tract infection...»1). Gastrointestinal side effects did not differ between those taking cranberry products and those receiving placebo or no specific treatment (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.77; 10 studies, n=2166; I² = 0%; moderate certainty evidence).

Table 1. Any cranberry product versus placebo or control for preventing urinary tract infection
Outcome: Symptomatic culture-verified UTI Relative effect (95% CI) Risk with placebo/control Risk with intervention - any cranberry product No. of participants (RCTs) Certainty of the evidence
Women with recurrent UTI RR 0.74 (0.55 to 0.99) 243 per 1000 180 per 1000 (134 to 241) 1555 (8) Moderate
Elderly men and women in institutions RR 0.93 (0.67 to 1.30) 113 per 1000 105 per 1000 (76 to 147) 1489 (3) Moderate
Children RR 0.53 (0.36 to 0.78) 289 per 1,000 153 per 1,000 (104 to 225) 428 (4) Moderate

Comment: The certainty of the evidence is downgraded by increased heterogeneity.

References

  1. Williams G, Stothart CI, Hahn D, et al. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023;11(11):CD001321 «PMID: 37947276»PubMed