Cranberry Juice Lowers Kids' Bladder Infection Rates, Says Study
A recently published study revealed that children who consume cranberry juice have a lower chance of developing bladder infections as compared with other juices.
The study, published in the latest edition Journal of Urology, was conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and showed that cranberry juice that contained high amounts of proanthocyanidins (PACs) lowered the rate of urinary tract infections by nearly two-thirds.
During the course of the study researchers selected 40 children who had at least two urinary tract infections in the preceding year. Those children were then randomly assigned to drink one of two juices that were available for the study. One of the samples contained high levels of PACs, while the other sample was void of any cranberry products.
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Researchers then monitored the children for a year and recorded any occurrences of urinary tract infections. They found that children who drank the cranberry juice with high PACs had a UTI rate of 0.4 per child compared with 1.15 in the comparison group.
While the results were promising, researchers explained that the study and results should not be taken as them supporting cranberry juice or products until further work can be conducted.
"The findings of this study should not be construed as an endorsement of any commercially available cranberry products," the lead researcher of the study, Dr. Kourosh Afshar, stated.
Cranberry juice has long been thought to offer digestive help when consumed, but doctors maintain that there are other methods to ensure a healthy digestive process.
Cranberry juice "can be a great alternative to prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics," Dr. Hiep Nguyen of Boston Children's Hospital told Reuters. He did not participate in the study, but expounded on the factors that could have affected the kids.
He explained that other factors are involved when considering juice in relation to urinary tract infections, such as high sugar content that would negate any beneficial effects the PACs may have.
Dr. Nguyen also cautioned that kids who tend to retain urine for extended periods of time without relieving themselves are also at risk, adding that if parents have any problems or questions they should make an appointment with to see their child's pediatrician.
