Cranberry Capsules vs. Juice: Which Is Better For Preventing UTIs? | Austin Urogynecology (2024)

FAQs

Cranberry Capsules vs. Juice: Which Is Better For Preventing UTIs? | Austin Urogynecology? ›

Studies have pointed out that due to the added sugars and water that dilute the cranberry juice, cranberry capsules are a more effective alternative. In fact, it turns out that the active ingredient in cranberries that helps prevent E. coli from turning into an infection may not even be present in cranberry juice!

Cranberry juice will not do the trick

However, the researchers point out that since a cranberry capsule provides the equivalent of 8 ounces of cranberry juice, a patient would need a lot of pure cranberry to prevent an infection.

Proanthocyanidins. Cranberry juice or cranberry supplements are the most reached-for supplements for UTI prevention.

Most of them had encouraging findings for some specific strains of lactobacilli. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 (previously called L. fermentum RC-14) seemed to be the most effective among the studied lactobacilli for the prevention of UTIs.

A study from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, New York, and colleagues reported in the Journal of Urology found using dried cranberry showed a reduction of the number of bathroom trips in patients who received the dried cranberry compared to those who received placebo (fake cranberry).

You may be wondering, “is it ok to take cranberry pills every day?” The vast majority of people experience no problems when taking cranberry tablets. However, there have been instances of people suffering from stomach aches, abdominal pain, and increased frequency of urination.

Stomach upset or diarrhea may occur with very large doses. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: severe stomach/abdominal pain. A very serious allergic reaction to this product is rare.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C prevents bacteria from growing by making urine more acidic. You can take a 500- to 1,000-milligram daily vitamin C supplement. You can add vitamin C-rich foods to your diet, like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, and leafy green vegetables.

Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.

It also dilutes your urine and lowers the concentration of bacteria in the bladder. Some people can clear an infection on their own just by drinking fluids. Try drinking at least 50 ounces, or about 1.5 liters, of fluid daily to prevent infections.

Many U.T.I. supplements also contain d-mannose, a simple sugar related to glucose. A review of previous studies on the chemical found that it may provide protection against recurring U.T.I.s. “Overall, d-mannose appears to be effective when compared to a placebo,” said Dr. Lenger, the lead author of the review.

What probiotics do gynecologists recommend? ›

Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most-researched strain of probiotic when it comes to establishing and maintaining a healthy vagin*l balance. Two other important strains include lactobacillus rhamnosus and lactobacillus reuteri.

Cranberry and D-Mannose both work by interlocking with many E. coli bacteria and flushes the E. coli out of your body and work better together than either one alone. The combination with probiotics can even further help keep E.

DO eat probiotics — plain Greek yogurt and fermented food such as sauerkraut and pickles. They contain “good” bacteria that can help keep the bad bacteria at bay. DON'T eat a lot of acidic fruit, such as oranges, lemons or limes during the infection. They can irritate your bladder.

A cranberry capsule is much more concentrated, and is the equivalent of drinking nearly 28 ounces of juice, which is why we recommend them to our patients. These capsules can be found at almost any grocery store.

Clinical research suggests that daily dosages of 240–300 ml of cranberry juice co*cktail can prevent 50% of the recurrences of UTIs and can reduce bacteriuria (11,15,16,30).

Cranberries contain a substance that can prevent bacteria from sticking on the walls of the bladder. This may help reduce bladder and other urinary tract infections (UTIs). Cranberries (usually as cranberry juice) have been used to try and treat UTIs, particularly in high risk groups such as older people.

Drinking cranberry juice isn't an effective treatment for UTIs. The amount of PAC isn't high enough, and trying to treat a UTI by drinking cranberry juice might worsen it.

While UTIs are not medical emergencies, they can lead to complications if left untreated. Additionally, the fastest way to cure a UTI is through antibiotic medication. Antibiotics will kill harmful bacteria. This will reduce symptoms quickly and prevent the infection from worsening.