Cranberry Juice Blocks H. influenzae Activity in Vitro

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Cranberry Juice Blocks H. influenzae Activity in Vitro

By Bruce Dixon

CHICAGO (Reuters Health) Oct 28 - A laboratory study presented here

Saturday at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of

America suggests that a component of cranberry juice has an inhibitory

effect on Haemophilus influenzae.

" We found that both cranberry juice and active chemicals in cranberry

juice called proanthocyanidins bind to and block...Haemophilus

influenzae

in the test tube, " said lead author, Dr. Kirk McCrea of the

University of

Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Dr. McRae and colleagues tested a 30% cranberry juice cocktail and

found

that it inhibited the hemagglutination of piliated H. influenzae by

78%.

Cranberry juice also inhibited binding of H. influenzae pili to buccal

cells to approximately the same extent.

" Because this was a laboratory study, human research is needed to

confirm

that drinking cranberry juice reduces the risk of respiratory

infections

in children. We know that eating fruits and vegetables is healthful.

This

is really on the fringe of looking at one of those health benefits and

giving us more of an edge over infections. We've got a long way to

go, but

this study is a start, " Dr. McRae commented.

Dr. McRae cautions parents not to jump to the conclusion that giving

their

children cranberry juice will prevent or treat illness.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has made official their concerns

over

the excessive consumption of fruit juices by young children. The AAP

recently stated that drinking too much fruit juice can contribute to

obesity, the development of cavities, diarrhea and other

gastrointestinal

problems, such as excessive gas, bloating and abdominal pain.