Sexual health: Cranberries can reduce risk of UTI by 50%, study finds

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be incredibly painful and lead to a variety of bladder problems. They are also very common. Researchers note that about a third of women will experience a UTI, as will many elderly people and those with bladder issues. If untreated, a UTI can move to the kidneys and cause further complications. While most common in women, UTIs can also affect men and children.

Cranberries have a tart and invigorating taste. These are high in nutrients and antioxidants. A new study has found that cranberries can reduce risk of UTI for women, children and for people susceptible to UTIs after medical interventions.

In the new study, researchers reviewed 50 previous trials covering a total of 8,857 participants. These earlier trials looked at how UTI risk was linked to cranberries delivered in juice, tablet, or powder form.


"The studies we looked at included a range of methods to determine the benefits of cranberry products," says epidemiologist Jacqueline Stephens from Flinders University in Australia. "The vast majority compared cranberry products with a placebo or no treatment for UTI and determined drinking cranberries as a juice or taking capsules reduced the number of UTIs in women with recurrent cases, in children and in people susceptible to UTIs following medical interventions such as bladder radiotherapy."

The researchers found that the risk of developing a UTI was reduced by more than a quarter in women with recurrent cases of infection. Even better was the result for children, with cranberries reducing the risk of developing a UTI by over 50 percent. The risk was reduced by just over a half for people likely to get UTIs following medical procedures.

The researchers noted that only a few people across the studies reported side effects – the most common being stomach pain. There are also certain gaps in the data as very few trials compared cranberry products directly to antibiotics or probiotics alone. It may be possible that these treatments may be as effective as the fruit.

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While consuming cranberries showed great reduction in UTI development risks for many, the positive impact may not be there for everyone. The researchers noted that no benefits of cranberries were shown for older adults, pregnant women, or people with bladder emptying problems.

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