Myths and Truths About Cranberry and Infections

MYTH—I don't need an antibiotic. Cranberry juice will cure my infection.

TRUTH—If you have a bladder infection, you need an antibiotic to get rid of the infection. Once the bacteria stick to the bladder wall and start multiplying, cranberry products cannot help. The only reliable treatment for a current bladder infection is an antibiotic, which can kill the bacteria that is causing the infection. Do not attempt to treat a bladder infection yourself. You can begin taking a cranberry product along with your antibiotic, in order to help decrease your risk of future infections. Cranberries work by decreasing the adherence of E.coli bacteria to the urinary tract lining, therefore decreasing the risk of having an infection. Cranberries cannot treat an infection that you already have, but they can help decrease your risk of having another infection in the future.

MYTH—I should start drinking cranberry juice as soon as I feel like I am getting an infection.

TRUTH—Once you feel like you are getting an infection, it is probably too late for cranberries to have an effect. Cranberries cannot treat an established infection or make the symptoms go away. Instead, a cranberry supplement should be taken on a regular, consistent basis in order to block E.coli bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract, and therefore decrease the risk of future infections.

MYTH—Once my symptoms go away, I can stop taking my antibiotic.

TRUTH—It is important that you finish the entire prescription of antibiotic prescribed by your physician. Stopping the antibiotic early can result in another infection.

MYTH—All cranberry supplements are the same.

TRUTH—All cranberry supplements are not the same. There are some major differences among the popular brands, and there are several important points to consider. First of all, the active components in cranberries are proanthocyanidins (PACs). These compounds work by decreasing the adherence of E.coli bacteria to the urinary tract lining, therefore decreasing the risk of getting an infection. Therefore, it is important to know the amount of PACs in the cranberry supplement you choose; which should be clearly stated on the supplement facts panel (ingredient label). Cranberry products should also be independently tested and certified for PAC content, which should be indicated by a seal such as NSF International on the label. The amount of PACs needed for benefit is 30-35 mg per day. TheraCran is the only cranberry supplement that has been independently tested and certified for PAC content.

Cranberry supplements use cranberry powders containing varying amounts of PACs. For example, most products use cranberry powders containing 1-1.5% PACs. TheraCran is the first and only supplement to use a high-potency powder containing 2.5% proanthocyanidins. This means that the needed amount of PACs are found in only two capsules per day of TheraCran, versus up to 6-8 capsules per day of most other products.

Some cranberry supplements use cellulose or similar ingredients (guar gum) as binders (used to hold a tablet together in the bottle, but allow it to disintegrate during digestion). These ingredients are efficient binders, but the downside is that they also bind to the PACs in cranberries, therefore rendering the cranberry supplement inactive against E. coli bacteria, which is responsible for approximately 80% of all bladder infections. TheraCran contains NO cellulose, and its bioactivity has been proven in a university-based trial.

MYTH—The cranberry supplement I bought at the pharmacy claims that I need to take just one capsule per day.

TRUTH—Some cranberry supplements claim that only one capsule per day is needed for the product to be effective. This is not true. Studies show that the beneficial anti-adhesion effects of cranberries last for about 10-12 hours. Therefore, it is important to take a cranberry supplement, or drink cranberry juice, twice a day. Furthermore, many of the products recommend fewer capsules or tablets per day than may actually be required for benefit. To receive benefit from many of the popular cranberry supplements, you would need to take 6-8 capsules per day. Two capsules of TheraCran daily provide the amount of PACs needed for bacterial anti-adhesion.

MYTH—Drinking a glass of cranberry juice once a day will decrease my risk of infection

TRUTH—Studies indicate that the beneficial anti-adhesion effects of cranberries last for about 10-12 hours. Therefore, it is important to take a cranberry supplement, or drink cranberry juice, twice a day. The amount of juice recommended is two 6-ounce glasses of cranberry juice cocktail per day (one in the morning and one in the evening). Two capsules of TheraCran provide the same amount of PACs as 12 ounces of cranberry juice cocktail.

MYTH—Cranberries work to help prevent all types of UTIs

TRUTH—Cranberries do not decrease the risk of bladder infections caused by all types of bacteria. However, approximately 80% of bladder infections are caused by E.coli bacteria, whose adherence to the urinary tract is blocked by cranberry PACs. Therefore, cranberries can help decrease the risk of most UTIs.

MYTH—D-mannose products work to prevent or treat UTIs

TRUTH— D-mannose is a sugar which has been claimed to reduce the risk of bladder infection by blocking bacterial adhesion in the bladder. However, d-mannose has only been shown to block bacterial adhesion in the test tube. There are no human studies which show any benefit when d-mannose is taken orally. In fact, recent research done at a major university showed that d-mannose, when taken orally, has no effect on bacterial adhesion because it is not excreted in the urine in any significant amount.