Is Cranberry Good For A UTI? Urinary Tract Infection Relief Myths Revealed

Many women have long believed the best way to deal with a urinary tract infection (UTI) without seeking medical attention was by drinking cranberry juice, eating some cranberries or taking cranberry capsules. However, those who believe cranberries are the key to the solution are wrong.

A new study conducted by researchers from the Yale School of Medicine found that cranberries do not cure or prevent urinary tract infections, the New York Daily News reported.

Cranberry capsules given to residents at a nursing neither treated nor prevented UTI’s among the group of older women, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Thursday. “This trial did not show a benefit of cranberry capsules in terms of lower presence of bacteriuria plus pyuria [presence of bacteria and white blood cells in the urine, a telltale sign of a UTI among older women living in nursing homes,” the study stated.

This randomized clinical trial took place over the course of a year starting out with 185 participants. However, only 147 participants completed the study due to deaths, hospitalizations and other factors. Dr. Manisha Juthani-Mehta, an associate professor of medicine who led the study, gave half the women capsules equivalent to 20 ounces of cranberry juice a day and gave the other half of the group a placebo, Time reported.

The capsules did not have much of an effect on either group as both experienced similar rates for UTI’s. “I don’t see much down side, even if I don’t think the scientific evidence is convincing,” Juthani-Mehta said.

To properly treat a UTI it is best to see a doctor. Many physicians recommend antibiotics or even ibuprofen to treat the infection. "It is time to move on from cranberries," the study concluded.