Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infections, causing approximately 7 million office visits to health professionals each year in the United States and approximately 100,000 hospitalizations. Clinical evidence shows that 20to 30% of women who had a UTI will have a recurrence. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon, Ericaceae) has been a traditional remedy for UTIs for decades. Its mechanism of action originally was thought to be acidification of the urine, but later it was foundthat A-type proanthocyanidins in cranberry prevent the adhesion of the E. coli bacteria to the urinary epithelium, preventing infection. This paper is a review and meta-analysis of the factors influencing the effectiveness of cranberry for UTI. It goesbeyond the 2008 Cochrane meta-analysis1 by including some new studies and providing a more thorough analysis.
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