Having scientific research now proving the age old wisdom that cranberries are able to prevent a urinary tract infection, experts questioned if there’s a component of the berry that, when extracted plus condensed, probably in pill form, could be as beneficial as drinking cranberry juice or eating the sauce in preventing a urinary tract infection.
Researchers examined proanthocyanidins or PACs, a group of flavonoids present in cranberries. Since they were considered to be the ingredient which provides the juice its urinary tract infection fighting qualities, PACs are regarded as a hopeful target for an beneficial extract. This study, however, reveals that cranberry juice, itself, is much better at preventing biofilm formation, the precursor of urinary tract infection, than PACs on their own
The researchers explore the mechanisms that the virulent form of E. coli bacteria, the primary cause of most urinary tract infections in people, uses to form biofilms. This strain of E. coli is covered with small hair-like projections known as fimbriae that act like hooks and latch onto cells that line the urinary tract. When enough of the virulent bacteria adhere to cells, they form a biofilm and cause an infection. Previous work by the researchers have shown that exposure to cranberry juice causes the fimbriae on E. coli to curl up, reducing their ability to attach to urinary tract cells.
They incubated two different strains of E. coli in the presence of two different mixtures of commercially available cranberry juice cocktail. They also incubated the bacteria separately in the presence of PACs, but not juice. While the juice cultures completely prevented biofilm formation, the PACs showed only limited ability to reduce biofilm formation, and only after extended exposure to the E. coli.
Cranberries have been recognized for their health benefits for a number of years, especially in the prevention of a urinary tract infection. While the mechanisms of action of cranberry products on bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation are not fully understood…this study shows that cranberry juice is better at inhibiting biofilm formation than isolated A-type cranberry flavonoids and PACs, although the reasons for this are not yet clear.
Reference for: Cranberry Juice Superior at Preventing a Urinary Tract Infection
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