Cranberry products in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in adult women: Efficacy, safety, and place in non-antibiotic prophylaxis - literature review.

Abstract

Recurrent urinary tract infections are among the most frequent bacterial infections in adult women and are associated with impaired quality of life, like repeated medical consultations, and cumulative exposure to antibiotics. In the context of increasing antimicrobial resistance, non-antibiotic preventive strategies have attracted growing attention. Cranberry products remain one of the most commonly used and most extensively studied options. The aim of this review was to summarize current evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and practical role of cranberry products in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in adult women. Contemporary guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized clinical trials indicate that cranberry products may reduce recurrence risk, particularly in women with recurrent uncomplicated cystitis. However, cranberry should not be regarded as a single uniform intervention. The clinical effect appears to depend on formulation, proanthocyanidin content, and duration of administration. Preparations providing at least 36 mg of proanthocyanidins daily seem to offer the most consistent benefit, whereas non-standardized products yield heterogeneous and less reliable results. Cranberry products are generally safe and well tolerated, although adherence may be affected by palatability, pill burden, or uncertainty regarding product composition. Overall, cranberry may be considered a reasonable non-antibiotic prophylactic option for selected adult women, provided that counseling includes realistic discussion of expected benefits, limitations of the evidence, and the importance of using standardized preparations.