Cranberry reduces urinary tract infections among older women read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/1436-cranberry-reduces-urinary-tract-infections-among-older-women

A new study finds that cranberry capsules didn't prevent recurring UTIs in older women who living in nursing home residents, whose average age was 86.

The researchers said, there is no significant difference was seen in the number of UTIs among those receiving the capsules versus a placebo pill.

Dr. Manisha Juthani-Mehta from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, said, cranberry products have long been thought to prevent urinary tract infections, and many different cranberry products are promoted for this purpose, but this study did not show that this product worked.   

Hydration is likely the most important measure to take to prevent urinary tract infections. This study is another in a long line of studies that don't suggest that cranberry products work to reduce urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infections are the most commonly diagnosed infection among nursing home patients. About 25 percent to 50 percent of women living in nursing homes have bacteria in their urine (bacteriuria), and 90 percent of those with bacteriuria have white blood cells in their urine (pyuria).

For the study, Juthani-Mehta and her colleagues randomly assigned 185 female nursing home residents to two oral cranberry capsules a day or placebo. Each capsule contained the equivalent of 20 ounces of cranberry juice.

The researchers found no difference in the percent of women who had bacteriuria plus pyuria among those taking cranberry capsules or placebo (29.1 percent versus 29 percent respectively).

One urogynecologist thinks that cranberry might prevent urinary tract infection in women of any age, but only if they are free of infection when they start using cranberry.

Researchers explained, Cranberry makes the urine more acidic, so it makes it more difficult for bacteria to grow. But, for its work to prevent urinary infection, patients must have no trace of bacteria or white blood cells in their urine.

Dr. Jill Rabin, co-chief of the division of ambulatory care at Women's Health Programs-PCAP Services at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, N.Y, said, the patients in this study were not necessarily uninfected. Older patients are prone to infection, which is why cranberry may not work better in these women.