Urinary tract infections, male or female, is one of the problems that people of all ages may encounter during their lifetime. If recurrent urinary tract infections are ignored and not treated, kidney loss may be inevitable. This risk occurs with a much higher probability in women. Current drug therapy relies on the use of antibiotics to destroy the microorganisms that cause the infection. However, careless and frequent use in an unconscious state can bring more harm than good. Apart from the possible side effects of antibiotics, the most valuable loss is the development of antibiotic-resistant types of microorganisms, which can become ineffective after a while. Another valuable issue is that it kills bacteria (lactic bacteria) in our body that are beneficial for our health. In the study, it was observed that with the use of ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic frequently given in urinary tract infections, for 5 days, one third of the beneficial bacteria in our intestines were destroyed, and some of them could not even reach the level before the use of antibiotics during the 6-month follow-up period.
It would be a rational approach to apply a “crisis management” plan instead of random antibiotic use in recurrent urinary tract infections. Although it is not a plant grown in our country, Cranberry is now well known in Turkey. As far as I can see, the confusion about the name in the markets has been eliminated to a great extent. It has been experimentally demonstrated that the proanthocyanidins found in the fruits of the plant prevent the coli bacteria from sticking to the urinary bladder, preventing their proliferation there. In the United States, it is included in various sources that women often consume the juice of the cranberry fruit to prevent urinary tract infections. Despite its widespread use, it is known that there are no clinical studies of sufficient scope and quality in this subject.
The results of a scientific-scale clinical study conducted in the United States and published recently are somewhat confusing in this regard. After the diagnosis of urinary tract infection, 319 healthy female college students who did not have any health problems other than recurrent urinary tract infections were given approximately 250 milliliters (two large-length glasses of water) cranberry juice 2 times a day (i.e. a total of 4 glasses per day). Another juice was given to the empty medicine cluster. The extent of the active ingredient in cranberry juice was also analyzed (112 milligrams per two glasses). The application continued for 6 months. At the end of the period, the recurrence rates of urinary infection in the volunteers were compared. However, there was no obvious difference in the middle of the cluster that was given cranberry juice and the cluster that was given false juice. As a result of the study, it was concluded that “cranium juice” is not effective in recurrent urinary tract infections in young women.
On the other hand, the results of another study conducted in England are completely different. 137 willing women over the age of 45, who were administered at least 2 antibiotics in the treatment of urinary tract infections diagnosed in the last year, were divided into two groups, and a capsule containing 500 milligrams of cranberry extract per day for 6 months and 100 milligrams of trimethoprim (a drug used in urinary tract infections) were placed in another cluster. The tablet containing the active ingredient of the drug) was given. At the end of the period, the rate of recurrence in urinary tract infections was taken into consideration. It was concluded that cranberry extract has as strong an effect as trimethoprim, which is a powerful antimicrobial drug, and that cranberry is much more robust in terms of its side effects.
The results of these two studies may have confused you. First of all, both studies were conducted on different age groups. In addition, the types of works used are different; one is juice, another is fruit extract. However, I always say that plant extracts are more effective, and in important cases, the medicine prepared from the appropriate quality plant extract should be used for treatment purposes.
