Cranberry
A berry extract used to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections.
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What it is
Cranberry contains proanthocyanidins (PACs) thought to keep certain bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract lining. It's used mainly for prevention, not treatment.
How it works
Cranberry contains proanthocyanidins (PACs) that appear to stop certain bacteria (like E. coli) from sticking to the urinary-tract lining. Preventing that adhesion is the basis for its use in reducing recurrent urinary tract infections — it's for prevention, not for treating an active infection.
What it's been studied for
Taken to help reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infections.
What the evidence shows
Evidence has been mixed, but recent analyses support cranberry products for reducing the risk of recurrent UTIs in susceptible people. It's for prevention — an active infection needs medical care.
Who should consider it
It's used mainly to help prevent recurrent UTIs in susceptible people. It isn't a treatment for an active infection, which needs medical care.
Amounts commonly studied
Studies use standardized extracts providing a defined amount of PACs (often around 36 mg PACs per day); juice is far less concentrated.
How to take it
Standardized extracts providing a defined amount of PACs (often around 36 mg PACs per day) are more practical than sugary juice. It's taken daily for prevention.
Forms & absorption
Capsules/extracts standardized to PAC content are more practical than sugary juice.
Food sources
Cranberries and unsweetened cranberry juice, though at lower PAC concentration than extracts.
Safety & interactions
Generally safe; high intake may upset the stomach. May interact with warfarin, so mention it to your provider if you take blood thinners. A suspected UTI still needs medical evaluation.
Myths & what it won't do
Myth: cranberry juice cures a UTI. Reality: it's for prevention, not treatment — an active infection needs medical evaluation and often antibiotics. Myth: any cranberry product works. Reality: PAC content varies, and sugary juice is far less concentrated than standardized extracts.
Common questions
- Does cranberry treat a UTI?
- No — it's for prevention of recurrent UTIs. An active infection needs medical evaluation and often antibiotics.
- Juice or capsules?
- Standardized extracts (dosed by PAC content) are more reliable and avoid the sugar of juice.
- Any interactions?
- High intake may interact with warfarin, so mention it to your provider if you take blood thinners.
The amounts listed here are what published research has used — not a prescription or a recommended dose for you. Confirm anything you plan to take with your own healthcare provider, especially if you take medications, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition.
Related goals
Research on Cranberry
Recommendations on this page are informed by published research. This is educational information, not medical advice.
- Xia JY, Yang C, Xu DF, et al. Consumption of cranberry as adjuvant therapy for urinary tract infections in susceptible populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis. PLoS One. 2021;16(9):e0256992. View study →