Study reveals cranberry juice isn’t the fix for your UTI after all

It’s the home remedy we all rely on when faced with the annoyance of a urinary tract infection, but sculling cranberry juice might not be the infection fighter we think it is, say scientists.

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New research published in the American Medical Association claims cranberry juice doesn’t make any difference when it comes to preventing and helping those with UTIs.

The study saw one group of female nursing home residents take two cranberry capsules every day for a year. The other group took a placebo.

Both groups had their blood and urine tested every two months, with no real difference between the groups when it came to bacteria levels and rates of UTIs.

So where did the idea that cranberry juice helps come from?

According to experts, cranberries do contain proanthocyanidins (PACs) which help stop bacteria from attaching to you bladder and urinary tract walls.

But most of the juices available in the supermarket don’t have enough PACs to make it a beneficial remedy.

"Although our study was only in nursing home women, many other studies have been done in other populations, which have not shown a benefit," said study author Dr. Manisha Juthani-Mehta.

If you are susceptible to getting UTIs, experts say eating well, sleep and exercise are your best defences.

“Beyond that, if you get a urinary tract infection, antibiotics are the most effective way of treating it,” urology specialist Dr. Elizabeth Kavaler tells the New York Daily News.

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