Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections

 

Abstract

Background

Cranberries (particularly in the form of cranberry juice) have been used widely for several decades for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this review is to assess the effectiveness of cranberries in treating such infections.

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness of cranberries for the treatment of UTIs.

Search methods

The search strategy developed by the Cochrane Renal Group was used. Also, companies involved with the promotion and distribution of cranberry preparations were contacted; electronic databases and the Internet were searched using English and non English language terms; reference lists of review articles and relevant studies were also searched.
Date of last search: July 2010

Selection criteria

All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs of cranberry juice or cranberry products for the treatment of UTIs. Studies of men, women or children were included.

Data collection and analysis

Titles and abstracts of studies that were potentially relevant to the review were screened by one author, RJ, who discarded studies that were clearly ineligible but aimed to be overly inclusive rather than risk losing relevant studies. Authors RJ and LM independently assessed whether the studies met the inclusion criteria. Further information was sought from the authors where papers contained insufficient information to make a decision about eligibility.

Main results

No studies were found which fulfilled all of the inclusion criteria. Two studies were excluded because they did not have any relevant outcomes and two studies are currently being undertaken.

Authors' conclusions

After a thorough search, no RCTs which assessed the effectiveness of cranberry juice for the treatment of UTIs were found. Therefore, at the present time, there is no good quality evidence to suggest that it is effective for the treatment of UTIs. Well-designed parallel group, double blind studies comparing cranberry juice and other cranberry products versus placebo to assess the effectiveness of cranberry juice in treating UTIs are needed. Outcomes should include reduction in symptoms, sterilisation of the urine, side effects and adherence to therapy. Dosage (amount and concentration) and duration of therapy should also be assessed. Consumers and clinicians will welcome the evidence from these studies.

 

Plain language summary

Still waiting for evidence about whether cranberries are a useful treatment for urinary tract infections

Cranberries contain a substance that can prevent bacteria from sticking on the walls of the bladder. This may help reduce bladder and other urinary tract infections (UTIs). Cranberries (usually as cranberry juice) have been used to try and treat UTIs, particularly in high risk groups such as older people. Cranberries have few adverse effects. The review found no evidence from studies about the effects of cranberry juice or other cranberry products on UTIs.

 

摘要

背景

蔓越莓治療泌尿道感染

在過去數十年間，蔓越莓 (尤其是蔓越莓汁的型式) 已被廣泛地應用在治療及預防泌尿道感染。本評論主要分析蔓越莓在治療泌尿道感染的效果。

目標

分析蔓越莓在治療泌尿道感染的效果。

搜尋策略

我們搜尋Cochrane Renal Group的資料，接觸參與促銷蔓越莓產品的公司，調查電子資料庫或網路上英文或非英文的文獻，也搜尋相關的文獻回顧和相關的臨床試驗文獻。最近的搜尋日期:2004年01月09日。

選擇標準

所有有關蔓越莓或其相關產品在治療泌尿道感染的隨機和準隨機對照試驗都被選入包括 (男性、女性及小孩) 。

資料收集與分析

一位研究者篩選潛在的相關研究題目及摘要，其也捨棄有結論但不符合條件的研究，以期周延而非冒險遺漏相關的研究。研究者RJ 及LM獨立地分析這些研究是否符合選入條件，若文獻本身無法提供足夠的資訊作為是否符合條件的依據，則會向作者搜尋更進一步的資料。

主要結論

無臨床試驗符合要求的選擇條件，有二個臨床試驗被排除，因為無任何相關的結果。

作者結論

在徹底的調查後，無針對蔓越莓治療泌尿道感染的無隨機臨床試驗。直到目前為止，無足夠的證據證明蔓越莓可以有效地治療泌尿道感染。所以仍須更多設計良好、平行、雙盲試驗來比較蔓越莓汁和其他蔓越莓產品與安慰劑以評估蔓越莓汁對於治療泌尿道感染的效果。結果需包括是否減少症狀、是否達到滅菌、副作用及治療的連貫性；也必須評估蔓越莓的劑量與治療時間，消費者或臨床醫師都期待這些臨床試驗的結果。

翻譯人

本摘要由馬偕醫院郭馨仁翻譯。

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院 (National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan) 統籌。

總結

蔓越莓已被廣泛地應用在治療泌尿道感染，但是仍然需要更多證據，蔓越莓有預防細菌附著在膀胱壁的物質。這可以幫忙減少膀胱和泌尿道感染。蔓越莓 (尤其是蔓越莓汁的型式) 已被廣泛地應用在治療及預防泌尿道感染，尤其是高危險族群，像是老年人。蔓越莓有一些副作用。這篇總結發現無足夠的證據證明，蔓越莓汁和其他蔓越莓產品，治療泌尿道感染的效果。