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Cranberry Juice Can Stave Off Infections

Compound in the fruit could reduce need for antibiotics because it prevents bacteria from sticking

  • Fruit may help keep women free of urinary tract infections, scientists say
  • Six in ten women will suffer from a urinary tract infection in their lifetime
  • Antibiotics usually first line of treatment, but overuse has decreased effect

Drinking cranberry juice may lower use of antibiotics by helping keep women free of urinary tract infections, scientists say.
UTIs are some of the most common bacterial infections, with six in ten women suffering one in their lifetime, and a quarter of those experiencing a recurrence within six months.

Antibiotics are usually the first line of treatment, but chronic overuse has increased resistance at an alarming rate.

The 24-week US study by Boston University looked at 373 women who had experienced at least two UTIs in the past year. Half drank 227ml of cranberry juice daily, with the other half given a placebo drink.

It was discovered that the rate of UTIs decreased by 40 per cent among the cranberry drinkers, with just 39 diagnoses compared with 67 in the placebo group.

This is because cranberries contain compounds known as Type-A PACs (proanthocyanidins) which prevent bacteria from sticking and causing infection. However, writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers warned that cranberry juice is mainly for preventing infections rather than treating them.
They wrote: ‘Most people wait to drink cranberry juice until they have a UTI but once the symptoms start they’ll likely need a course of antibiotics.’

Article:  Daily Mail Reporter, Video: Ocean Spary

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