Urinary Tract Infections are Common and Frustrating
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common bacterial infection in the world, second only to ear infections. While men can get urinary tract infections, it is much more common in women. Approximately 50 percent of all women will experience UTIs, primarily in their 20s, with up to a 30 percent chance of recurrence, sometimes caused by the very same bacteria as the initial condition. Individuals with autoimmune conditions or preexisting kidney disease have a higher risk of UTIs, but up to 25 percent of the population, including children, suffer chronically from these infections.
Although uncomplicated UTIs may not cause noticeable symptoms at first, over time, they can invade and colonize the bladder and kidneys, becoming more evident, painful, and difficult to treat.
Responsible for about 85 percent of UTIs and bladder infections, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is especially adept at adhering to the surface of the urinary tract and colonizing the body. Other bacteria associated with urinary tract infections include Klebsiella pneumoniae and staphylococcus. But in most cases, UPEC is the primary culprit behind these infections.
Antibiotics are commonly used to fight UTIs, but their use can create resistant bacteria that cause recurrent infections, and they can wipe out the good bacteria that we need in the intestinal tract to help the body fight illness and keep our digestion running smoothly. Fortunately, there are effective alternatives.
Cranberry
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) has been used for decades to treat UTIs. Cranberries provide a natural abundance of healthy compounds, including proanthocyanidins, phenolic acids, and flavanols that provide a wide range of protective benefits throughout the body, including strengthening the immune system and bacterial resistance.
Cranberry compounds prevent the adhesion of bacteria to the epithelium (lining) of the cells in the urinary tract. Scientific research shows that the flavonoids in cranberries are most likely responsible for their actions against UPEC, either helping sweep it out of the body or stopping it from colonizing in the first place. And because cranberries have a low pH of about 2.5, this acidic element may also push bacteria out of the urinary tract during urination as well.
Another way cranberry nutrients keep harmful bacteria at bay is by interacting with our good bacteria in the digestive tract. Cranberry compounds are modified by probiotic bacteria into active metabolites that can fight infections. And quinic acid, one of the components in cranberry, has potent antibacterial action.
For example, a clinical study found that a combination of quinic acid and malic acid (another component of cranberry) reduced the number of harmful bacterial cells in the bladder by 81 percent.
Cranberries stop infections in other ways, too. They stimulate the production of a defensive protein called Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) in the kidneys which also prevents bacteria from colonizing further up the urinary tract. This could stop UTIs from becoming more serious, as long as cranberries are introduced early in the course of the illness.
As they disrupt bacterial infections, they also clear up the symptoms associated with those infections. One metaanalysis compiling the data from 50 clinical trials concluded that cranberry consumption and/or supplementation reduces the risk of symptomatic, verified UTIs in women with recurring infections by 26 percent, in individuals who were susceptible to UTIs after other interventions like radiation treatment by 53 percent, and in children by 54 percent.
But again, it’s important to supplement with cranberry at the earliest signs of a UTI, because when these infections are left untreated, they can travel up the urinary tract to the kidneys, creating the potential for even more serious damage as well as intensely painful symptoms.
D-Mannose
Chances are, you’ve consumed d-mannose from food sometime this week, or even this very day. This monosaccharide is found in many fruits, including apples, blueberries, peaches, and–not surprisingly–cranberries. But as common as d-mannose is, when taken as a supplement it has some uncommonly strong abilities to prevent or stop urinary tract infections.
Interestingly, some of the preferred nesting places for bacteria in the urinary tract are called mannose receptors. D-mannose helpfully takes their place on those sites, interfering with bacteria’s ability to adhere to and colonize those receptors, stopping infections from taking hold and spreading.
Plus, as d-mannose passes through the urinary tract, it also weakens the structure of harmful bacteria. And it works quickly, too. Within about an hour, d-mannose passes through the urinary tract, weakening the bacteria attached to mannose receptors and flushing them away. Clinical work shows that these multifaceted actions of d-mannose yield impressive results–sometimes in very little time.
An observational clinical study of women with acute, uncomplicated UTIs compared results from participants taking only d-mannose, d-mannose and antibiotics, and d-mannose with a variety of other interventions (generally teas formulated for the bladder or kidneys).
In just three days, 85 percent of the patients in the d-mannose-only group were considered healed, compared to only 56 percent of the d-mannose and antibiotics group and 53 percent of the group taking d-mannose with other interventions.
But for longer-term issues of recurring infections, d-mannose is highly effective as well. In one study of participants with multiple sclerosis (who are at an increased risk of UTIs), d-mannose use for 16 weeks prevented recurrent infections in 75 percent of the patients without urinary catheters, and 63 percent of patients using catheters.
Another cross-over clinical study found that d-mannose greatly outperformed antibiotics in cases of recurrent infections, delaying their onset by 200 days compared to the antibiotic’s average of 52 days.
A six-month clinical study found similar results, with participants divided into three groups: those taking d-mannose, participants taking nitrofurantoin (an antibiotic used to prevent or treat UTIs), or those who received no treatment. By the end of the study, only 15 of those in the d-mannose group saw a recurrence versus 21 participants taking the antibiotic, and 60 participants not taking any preventative. Here again, d-mannose was superior to the drug.
Bear in mind that the level of d-mannose from foods is low and that a supplemental form of the nutrient is best for treating infections. But that doesn’t mean that you necessarily need mega doses of d-mannose, either. While initial studies used large dosages, sometimes two or three grams per day, excellent results have been seen with as little as 200 mg per day. I think that middle ground is probably best and that 250 mg to 500 mg per day, especially when combined with cranberry extract and vitamin C, can provide a solid foundation for preventing or stopping UTIs.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can help the body maintain glutathione levels, which is critical to the prevention of, or recovery from, any disease, including those of the kidneys and urinary tract. Researchers believe that vitamin C may be especially beneficial for anyone with renal kidney injury, protecting them from the oxidative damage that is often associated with kidney failure.
Vitamin C is naturally present in cranberries, but at varying levels, so having a supplemental source can help ensure that you get a consistent amount of the nutrient. I recommend it for anyone with kidney, bladder, or urinary tract concerns.
You Can Stop Urinary Tract Infections
While UTIs can seem to be unstoppable, having the right nutrients on your side can stop the cycle of infection and recurrence that can lead to everdiminishing results and increasing side effects from antibiotics. By incorporating cranberry, d-mannose, and vitamin C into your regimen daily, you can prevent UTIs from developing, keep them from returning, and regain control of your life again.