Antibiotic-resistant bacteria no match for cranberry juice, researchers find

June 18, 2002

June 18, 2002

By JACK KASKEY Staff Writer, (609) 272-7213, E-Mail

Cranberry juice helps fight urinary tract infections, even when bacteria are

resistant to antibiotics, according to research to be published in

Wednesday's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, or

JAMA.

Researchers have previously documented that cranberry juice prevents

bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract. But the JAMA findings indicate

that cranberry's anti-adhesion mechanism also is effective against

antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains.

" Cranberry acts to promote flushing of these problematic bacteria from the

bladder into the urine stream, which should lower the rate of infection, "

said Amy B. Howell, a research scientist at Rutgers University and lead

investigator of the study.

The finding is particularly significant because an increasing number of

bacteria strains are resistant to common antibiotics used in treating

urinary tract infections, said Betsy Foxman, co-author of the study and an

epidemiologist at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

" In light of the increasing antibiotic resistance of many bacteria, the

public health significance of the role of foods, such as cranberry juice

cocktail, in preventing infections warrants further consideration, " Foxman

said.

Drinking eight ounces of cranberry juice cocktail prevented 79 percent of

antibiotic-resistant bacteria and 80 percent of all bacteria from sticking

to urinary tract cells, the researchers found.

The study also found that cranberry juice's beneficial effect may start

within two hours and can last for as long as 10 hours in the urine. That

suggests that consuming a serving in the morning and in the evening may

provide more effective protection than a single serving daily, Howell said.

The findings will be published in a research letter to the editor in the

June 19 issue of JAMA.

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