Cranberry Juice may not be effective against infections

December 13, 2010

A U.S. researcher says cranberry juice may be no more effective than a

placebo against urinary tract infections.

Study author Betsy Foxman of the University of Michigan School of Public

Health in Ann Arbor says they expected a 30 percent recurrence rate in those

in the placebo group.

However, Foxman reports their study, published in the January issue of

Clinical Infectious Diseases, found the cranberry juice drinkers had a

recurrence of urinary tract infections at a rate of almost 20 percent, while

those who drank the placebo suffered only a 14 percent recurrence.

However, Foxman notes the possibility the placebo juice inadvertently

contained the active ingredients that reduce urinary tract infection risk,

since both juices had vitamin C.

" Another possibility is that the study protocol kept participants better

hydrated, leading them to urinate more frequently, therefore decreasing

bacterial growth and reducing urinary tract infection symptoms, " Foxman, the

study author, said in a statement.

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