Cranberries and Urinary Tract Infections in Women

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most common bacterial infection. Antibiotic therapy is used after establishing a presumptive diagnosis of UTI. Cranberries have been traditionally used to prevent recurrent UTIs. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of cranberries for prevention of UTIs. Methods: A literature search was performed to identify clinical trials and systematic meta-analyses. Electronic databases were used, including PubMed and Cochrane. Results: Five meta-analyses were considered. Some clinical studies have supported cranberries benefits; however the effectiveness of the cranberry on prevention of recurrent UTIs remains controversial.