Cranberry
supplement research by
Ray Sahelian, M.D. Health benefit
of cranberry juice and cranberry supplements
American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is one of
only three species of fruit native to North America. The other species are
blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolia) and
bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Cranberry
typically grows in bogs and is a member of the same family as blueberry and
bilberry. Cranberry is widely used to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI). It
was initially believed to function by acidifying urine. However, the
mechanism is now thought to be inhibition of adhesion of bacteria to
uroepithelial cells by proanthocyanadin, a compound present in cranberry.
Cranberry like other fruits is also rich in phenolic
phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, flavonoids and ellagic acid.
Consumption of cranberry has been shown to have a capacity to inhibit
peptic ulcer-associated bacterium, Helicobacter pylori.
Full Spectrum Cranberry Concentrate,
560 mg, 90 Tablets
Planetary Formulas
Genitourinary Tract Support
Herbal Supplement
Cranberry is widely used to support the health of the genitourinary tract.
Research has shown that it has an anti-adhesion factor that prevents
bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract. Planetary
Formulas Cranberry concentrate is a concentrated extract yielding a broad
spectrum of cranberry's valuable plant acids. Each 560 mg tablet is
equivalent to drinking 8 oz. of cranberry juice.
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Research Update newsletter. Twice a month we email a brief abstract
of several studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics --
including cranberry -- and
their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Lifestyle Recommendations: To support the health of the genitourinary
tract, drink plenty of pure water; avoid the excessive consumption of
sugar, which can lead to increased bacterial levels; and reduce caffeine
and alcohol, which may irritate the bladder.
Cranberry
Supplement Facts:
Calcium - 67 mg - 8 %DV
Cranberry Extract - 560 mg *
(standardized to 90 % solids)
* Cranberry extract daily value not established
Cranberry Chemical Composition
Cranberry contains a number of compounds including
proanthocyanidins,
anthocyanidins, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnaminic acid. Flavonoids in
cranberries contribute to the red color and have antioxidant properties. Most of
the compounds in cranberry are antioxidants.
Form of Cranberry
You can get the benefits of cranberry by drinking cranberry juice,
diluting cranberry concentrate with water, taking cranberry capsules, or using a
cranberry tincture. A cranberry supplement would minimize the high calories that
come from drinking cranberry juice.
Cranberry and UTI treatment
Cranberry fruit is used primarily for the prevention or treatment of urinary tract
infections ( UTI ) or bladder infections. Cranberries may also protect against
heart disease and certain types of cancer, probably through the antioxidant and
anti-tumor effects of flavonoids found in cranberry.
The use of cranberry juice among individuals to prevent or treat bladder
infection is a common practice. The accumulating evidence suggests that
cranberry may relieve symptoms associated with bladder infection and may reduce
the need for antibiotics. Before the advent of antibiotics,
cranberry juice continued to be a popular treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs).
The current proposed mechanism of action focuses primarily on cranberry's
ability to prevent bacterial binding to host cell surface membranes. In vitro
studies have observed potent inhibition of bacterial adherence of Escherichia
coli4 and other gram-negative uropathogens.
Cranberry was
initially believed to function by acidifying urine. However, the mechanism is
now thought to be inhibition of adhesion of bacteria to uroepithelial cells
(cells lining inside the urethra and bladder wall) by proanthocyanadin, a
compound present in cranberry.
Cranberry Juice and Cholesterol
Favourable impact of low-calorie cranberry juice consumption on plasma HDL-cholesterol
concentrations in men.
Br J Nutr. 2006 Aug;96(2):357-64.Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional
Foods, Laval University, Quebec G1K 7P4, Canada and Lipid Research Center Laval
University Medical Research Center, CHUL Pavilion, Quebec Canada.
A low HDL-cholesterol concentration is an independent risk factor for CVD.
Studies have suggested that flavonoid consumption may be cardioprotective, and a
favourable impact on circulating HDL-cholesterol concentrations has been
suggested to partially explain this association. The aim of the present study
was to determine the effect of consuming increasing daily doses of low-calorie
cranberry juice cocktail (CJC) on the plasma lipid profile of abdominally obese
men. For that purpose, thirty men (mean age 51 (SD 10) years) consumed
increasing doses of CJC during three successive periods of 4 weeks (125 ml/d,
250 ml/d, 500 ml/d). Before the study and after each phase, we measured changes
in physical and metabolic variables. We noted a significant increase in plasma
HDL-cholesterol concentration after the consumption of 250 ml CJC/d (+8.6+/-14.0
% v. 0 ml CJC/d; P<0.01), an effect that plateaued during the last phase of the
study (500 ml CJC/d: +8.1+/-10.0 % v. 0 ml CJC/d; P<0.0001). Multivariate
analyses revealed that changes in plasma apo A-I (R(2)=48 %, P<0.0001) and
triacylglycerol (R(2)=16 %, P<0.005) concentrations were the only variables
significantly contributing to the variation in plasma HDL-cholesterol
concentration noted in response to the intervention. No variation was observed
in total as well as in LDL and VLDL cholesterol. The present results show that
daily CJC consumption is associated with an increase in plasma HDL-cholesterol
concentrations in abdominally obese men. We hypothesise that polyphenolic
compounds from cranberries may be responsible for this effect, supporting the
notion that the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods can be cardioprotective.
Historical uses of Cranberry
The ripe cranberry fruit was used medicinally by Native Americans for the
treatment of bladder and kidney ailments. Pilgrims called the fruit "craneberry"
because the stem and flower resembled the head, neck, and beak of a crane.
Therapeutic applications of cranberries documented during the 17th century
included the relief of blood disorders, stomach ailments, liver problems,
vomiting, appetite loss, scurvy, and cancer.
Cranberry and Teeth
New research shows a generous helping of cranberry sauce may
actually offer benefits for their teeth. Cranberries, which already are
known to help thwart urinary tract infections, may also prevent tooth
decay and cavities, dental researchers reported in the January, 2006 issue
of the journal Caries Research. The same sticky compounds in the small,
hard red fruit -- which is boiled into a jelly that is a staple at
American winter holiday meals -- that help keep bacteria at bay in the
bladder also appear to help prevent bacteria from clinging to teeth. They
also found cranberry seemed to help ward off plaque, a gooey substance
formed from bits of food, saliva, and acid that can harbor bacteria and
eventually irritate the gums. The ultimate goal is to extract cranberry's
protective properties and add them to toothpaste or mouthwash. In the
meantime, people should be advised against drinking or eating excessive
amounts of cranberry -containing products since sugar is often added to
cranberries. The cranberry seed has not been studied as much as
cranberry juice.
Cranberry for Food Poisoning
Protection
Cranberry extract may reduce the likelihood of
food-borne disease. Pathogen levels in raw meat are reduced after the
application of cranberry concentrate. These include significantly reduced
growth of Salmonella, E. coli and other dangerous bacteria. Compounds in
cranberries inhibit the growth of bacteria associated with food-borne
illnesses. Other research has found cranberry juice reduces E. coli,
Salmonella and other bacteria in unpasteurised apple cider. Cranberries
are known to have "anti-adhesion" properties that protect the body from
certain harmful bacteria that cause urinary tract infections, stomach
ulcers and gum disease.
In the US, PepsiCo Inc. and Ocean Spray have formed a
long-term strategic alliance under which Pepsi-Cola North America will
distribute single-serve cranberry juice products in North America under
the Ocean Spray name.
Cranberry review
The cranberry is full of antioxidants. The National Institutes of Health
is funding research on the effect of cranberry on heart disease, yeast
infections and other conditions, and other researchers are investigating
its potential against cancer, stroke and viral infections. So far,
research has found drinking cranberry juice can block urinary infections
by binding to bacteria so they can’t adhere to cell walls. Women often
drink unsweetened cranberry juice to treat an infection. A compound
discovered in cranberry, proanthocyanidine, prevents plaque formation on
teeth; mouthwashes containing it are being developed to prevent
periodontal disease. In some people, regular cranberry juice consumption
for months can kill the H. pylori bacteria, which can cause stomach cancer
and ulcers. Drinking cranberry juice daily may increase levels of HDL, or
good cholesterol and reduce levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol. Cranberry
may prevent tumors from growing rapidly or starting in the first place.
Extracts of chemicals in cranberry prevent breast cancer cells from
multiplying in a test tube; whether that would work in women is unknown.
Cranberry juice versus
cranberry supplement for UTI
For prevention of urinary tract infections, one has to consider the cost
of regularly drinking cranberry juice, as well as the extra calories. As
for cranberry supplements, two studies suggested they may work, but
cranberry supplements come in a wide range of different strengths. Optimal
dose of cranberry supplements and duration of use is not understood well.
It is not fully known whether cranberry supplements are equivalent to
cranberry juice in the fruit's biologically active substances.
Cranberry
availability from herb and ingredient suppliers
Cranberry is available as a plain cranberry juice concentrate powder or in
various extract potencies, for instance 4 to 1, 12 to 1, 18 to 1
concentrations. One supplier sells cranberry extract as 30 percent total
acid, 10 percent quinic acid and 3 percent total phenols.
Cranberry benefit questions
Q. Do sweetened dried cranberries have similar bladder benefits as
cranberry juice?
A. Dried cranberries do contain the anti-adhesion
mechanism present in cranberry juice, puree and concentrate that prevents
urinary tract infections. However, I am not thrilled about the sugar added to
the cranberry.
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