AZO Cranberry Gummies

Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra cranberry to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

An interaction between cranberry and warfarin has been suggested in case reports; however, evidence of a causal relationship is lacking.

Information is lacking.

The cranberry was primarily used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of bladder and kidney ailments among American Indians. 2 The berries were also used as a fabric and food dye, and as a poultice to treat wounds and blood poisoning. 4 Sailors used the berries as a scurvy preventative. Despite a general lack of scientific evidence to indicate that cranberries or their juice are effective urinary acidifiers, interest persists among the public in the medicinal use of cranberries. Cranberries are used in eastern European cultures because of their folkloric role in the treatment of cancers and to reduce fever.

The widespread consumption of cranberries makes the results of animal trials largely irrelevant.

Two main mechanisms of action have been postulated. A change in the pH of urine by the conversion of benzoic acid to hippuric acid has been suggested. Consequent acidification of the urine was demonstrated in some studies. 11 , 12 Hippuric acid is also considered to be bacteriostatic, but the amount of benzoic acid in the fruit rarely results in the production of sufficient hippuric acid to be effective as a urinary bacteriostatic agent. 12 The other mechanism by which cranberry may act is via properties that inhibit the adhesion of the pathogen ( E. coli ) to urinary epithelial cells. 13 , 14 , 15 Preliminary data suggest that concentrated cranberry juice has some antibacterial activity, but whether sufficient urinary concentrations of the active ingredients can be achieved needs further investigation. 12 , 16

A systematic review found no well-designed trials assessing evidence for effect in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Methodological issues include study design, measurement of outcomes and dosage, and duration of treatment. The use of cranberries for the treatment of urinary tract infections remains unsupported. 12 , 17 , 18 , 19

A systematic review found a reduction in the incidence of urinary tract infections at 12 months compared with placebo (relative risk [RR] 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46 to 0.90). 20 A greater effect was found for reducing the incidence of recurrent urinary tract infections in women, than among elderly men and women, or people requiring catheterization. 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 A large number among the participants dropped out of the studies, and optimal dosage was unclear.

Among patients with spinal cord injury, no preventative effect was found for cranberry consumption in treating neurogenic bladders in 2 small trials. 24 , 25

Cranberry phytochemicals, especially proanthocyanidins, quercetin, and ursolic acid, are being investigated for a role in cancer treatment. Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of tumor proliferation have been suggested. Clinical studies are limited. 6 , 26

Reviews suggest that the high polyphenolic content of cranberry may contribute to a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Suggested mechanisms, based mainly on animal studies, include increased resistance of LDL to oxidation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and reduced blood pressure. 4 , 26 , 27

A small trial investigated the effect of daily cranberry consumption among patients with type 2 diabetes. Lower insulin levels compared with placebo were found in the experiment arm at 12 weeks. 4 , 28

Trials investigating the efficacy of cranberry in H. pylori eradication have been of varying methodological quality. 29 , 30 In vitro studies evaluated the effect of cranberry on GI bacteria, as well as on nasopharyngeal bacteria. 31 , 32

Substance Name

Cranberry

Scientific Name

Vaccinium macrocarpon

CAS Registry Number

91770-88-6

Drug Class

Complementary Therapies

Food

Phytotherapy

Plants, Medicinal

LactMed Record Number

922

Last Revision Date

20170411

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