A daily consumption of cranberry juice (CJ) is linked to many beneficial health effects due to its richness in polyphenols but could also awake some intestinal discomforts due to its organic acid content and possibly lead to intestinal inflammation. Additionally, the impact of such a juice on the gut microbiota is still unknown. Thus, this study aimed to determine the impacts of a daily consumption of CJ and its successive deacidification on the intestinal inflammation and on the gut microbiota in mice. Four deacidified CJs (DCJs) (deacidification rates of 0, 40, 60, and 80%) were produced by electrodialysis with bipolar membrane (EDBM) and administered to C57BL/6J mice for four weeks, while the diet (CHOW) and the water were ad libitum. Different parameters were measured to determine intestinal inflammation when the gut microbiota was profiled. Treatment with a 0% DCJ did not induce intestinal inflammation but increased the gut microbiota diversity and induced a modulation of its functions in comparison with control (water). The effect of the removal of the organic acid content of CJ on the decrease of intestinal inflammation could not be observed. However, deacidification by EDBM of CJ induced an additional increase, in comparison with a 0% DCJ, in the Lachnospiraceae family which have beneficial effects and functions associated with protection of the intestine: the lower the organic acid content, the more bacteria of the Lachnospiraceae family and functions having a positive impact on the gut microbiota.

Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections. Cranberry has been suggested for H. pylori eradication. We aimed to conduct the first meta-analysis to summarise current evidence on effects of cranberry supplementation on H. pylori eradication in H. pylori positive subjects. We searched the online databases up to December 2020. Four randomised clinical trials (RCT) were included with human subjects, investigating the effect of cranberry on H. pylori eradication. The pooled results were expressed as the OR with 95 % CI. Based on five effect sizes with a total sample size of 1935 individuals, we found that according to the OR, there was a positive effect of cranberry supplementation on H. pylori eradication, increasing the chance of H. pylori eradication by 1.27 times, but this relationship was not statistically significant (overall OR: 1.27; 95 % CI 0.63, 2.58). The results also indicated the moderate between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 63.40 %; P = 0.03) of the studies. However, there were no significant differences in some subgroup analyses in the duration of treatment, the duration of follow-up and the Jadad score. Our findings revealed that although cranberry had a positive effect on H. pylori eradication in adults, this effect was not statistically significant. Due to the small number of included studies and moderate heterogeneities, the potential of cranberry supplementation on H. pylori eradication should be validated in large, multicentre and well-designed RCT in the future.

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept has been proposed to explain the influence of environmental conditions during critical developmental stages on the risk of diseases in adulthood. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of the prenatal vs. postnatal environment on the gut microbiota in dams during the preconception, gestation and lactation periods and their consequences on metabolic outcomes in offspring. Here we used the cross-fostering technique, e.g. the exchange of pups following birth to a foster dam, to decipher the metabolic effects of the intrauterine versus postnatal environmental exposures to a polyphenol-rich cranberry extract (CE). CE administration to high-fat high-sucrose (HFHS)-fed dams improved glucose homeostasis and reduced liver steatosis in association with a shift in the maternal gut microbiota composition. Unexpectedly, we observed that the postnatal environment contributed to metabolic outcomes in female offspring, as revealed by adverse effects on adiposity and glucose metabolism, while no effect was observed in male offspring. In addition to the strong sexual dimorphism, we found a significant influence of the nursing mother on the community structure of the gut microbiota based on alpha-diversity and beta-diversity indices in offspring. Gut microbiota transplantation (GMT) experiments partly reproduced the observed phenotype in female offspring. Our data support the concept that the postnatal environment represents a critical window to influence future sex-dependent metabolic outcomes in offspring that are causally but partly linked with gut microbiome alterations.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common causes of infections in women. Via the fecal-perineal-urethral route, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) can cause ascending urinary tract infections, including cystitis and pyelonephritis. These infections re-occur within six months or they account for, at least, three episodes within a year of recurrent UTIs (rUTIs). Long term and continuous antibiotic treatment or prophylaxis should be considered as the last options in rUTIs. Conversely, updated European Association of Urology guidelines recommend non-antimicrobial approaches to prevent rUTIs. Accordingly, several studies reported the efficacy of number of natural molecules in inhibiting UPEC adhesion to bladder cells, restraining bacterial growth, as well as stimulating the host innate immune defenses, and protecting the bladder and the kidney mucosa. Therefore, we propose an "anti-UPEC" diet enriched of foods containing natural compounds that were proven effective against UPEC, such as D-mannose, cranberry extracts and medicinal plants. Being a valuable and safe clinical approach to reduce UTI recurrence and limiting the detrimental effects of long and continuous antibiotic prophylaxis, dietary interventions should be evaluated in future clinical trials.

This study aimed to investigate whether cranberry extract could reduce lower urinary tract (LUT) and gastro-intestinal (GI) signs in feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). Twenty-one client-owned cats were randomly allocated to two groups: a treated group (T, n = 10) receiving daily an oral nutritional supplement containing cranberry extract and a control group (C, n = 11). Owners were trained to recognise daily LUT and GI signs. Physical examination, urinalysis and bladder ultrasonography were performed at day 0 (T0), 15 (T15), 30 (T30), 60 (T60). Both groups showed an improvement for dysuria and periuria from T0 to T30 (p < 0.05), but only in cats of the T group, LUT signs disappeared at T60. A significant improvement in the T group was also observed for GI signs and bladder ultrasonography at T60 (p = 0.03). Urinalysis did not show any significant differences. This preliminary study suggests that cranberry could be effective in reducing LUT and GI signs in FIC

Adhesion of P-type and type-1 fimbriated uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) to uroepithelial cells initiates urinary tract infections (UTIs). This research aimed to evaluate the capacities of selected cranberry polyphenols and their microbial metabolites to inhibit such adhesion in vitro using a modified fluorometric method. Data showed that the inhibition capacity of myricetin increased with concentration and plateaued at 70%. It had IC50 values of 13.2 M against P-type E. coli and 5.50 M against type-1 E. coli. Quercetin showed similar anti-adhesion capacities to myricetin. Procyanidin A2 and B2 had weaker anti-adhesion activities than myricetin and quercetin, with maximal inhibition capacities of 20%-30% against UPEC. Hippuric acid, a major metabolite of cranberry polyphenols in human urine, showed a maximal inhibition of 20% at 558 M against type-1 E. coli adhesion, whereas no anti-adhesion activity against P-type E. coli was detected. The fractions of cranberry fruit powder enriched with proanthocyanidin polymers showed the highest anti-adhesion activities compared to the fractions enriched with anthocyanins, flavonols, or proanthocyanidin oligomers. Overall, the anti-adhesion activities of cranberry polyphenols and metabolites depend on their structures and the types of fimbriae on E. coli.

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a commonly acquired bacterial infection mostly in young, healthy women. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) has historically been used for the treatment and prevention of UTIs; however, research has found conflicting evidence regarding its effectiveness for the prophylaxis of UTIs. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of cranberry on the risk of UTI occurrences in women. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of cranberry as prophylaxis for recurrent UTIs in women was performed. RCTs published until January 2022 comparing any cranberry product interventions with placebo in adult women were considered eligible. All statistical analyses were conducted using the random effect model (Mantel-Haenszel method). Outcomes were reported as number of participants developing a UTI. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. Results: Nine clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis. The study concluded that cranberry products reduced the risk of UTI by 21 % in women compared with the placebo group (0.79 [CI 0.67, 0.94], I2 = 47 %, P = 0.008). Subgroups, including cranberry juice encapsulated cranberry powder, cultured confirmed UTIs; asymptomatic bacteriuria and uncomplicated UTIs, were also performed. Notably, pooling data from RCTs using cranberry as tablets/capsule showed a RR = 0.71 (P = 0.005). Conclusions: This data suggested that cranberry products may be effective in the prevention of UTIs in women. However, these results are not to be considered definitive, and more clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Cranberries are a rich source of bioactive compounds that comprise a healthy diet. Cranberry is abundant in nutritional components and many bioactive compounds that have antioxidant properties. Both American (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and European (Vaccinium oxycoccus) cranberry species are rich in polyphenols such as phenolic acids, anthocyanins and flavonoids, and is one of the few fruits that is high in proanthocyanidins, which is linked to many health benefits. The review systematizes information on the chemical composition of cranberry, its antioxidant effect, and the beneficial impact on human health and disease prevention after cranberry consumption, and in particular, its effect against urinary tract inflammation with both adults and children, cardiovascular, oncology diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, tooth decay and periodontitis, Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the stomach and other diseases. Additional research needs to study cranberry proteomics profiling, polyphenols interaction and synergism with other biologically active compounds from natural ingredients and what is important in formulation of new functional foods and supplements.

A number of clinical trials support the use of standardized cranberry supplement products for prevention of urinary tract infections; however, products that are not well-characterized for sufficient levels of bioactive components may contribute to negative clinical outcomes. Cranberry supplements for consumer use are not regulated and can be formulated different ways using cranberry juice, pomace or various combinations. This can lead to consumer confusion regarding effectiveness of individual products. The current study compared two commercial supplement products, one made from cranberry juice extract and the other from a blend of whole cranberry. The influence of formulation and proanthocyanidin (PAC) solubility on in vitro and ex vivo P-fimbriated Escherichia coli bacterial anti-adhesion activity (AAA) was determined. Both supplement products as well as whole, frozen cranberries were chromatographically separated into crude polyphenolic, sugar and acid fractions. In vitro AAA testing of all fractions confirmed that only those containing soluble PACs elicited activity. The cranberry juice extract product had higher soluble PAC content than the whole cranberry blended product, which contained mainly insoluble PACs. The influence of soluble and insoluble PAC levels in each product on the urinary (ex vivo) AAA was determined following ingestion. The juice extract product was associated with significantly higher urinary AAA than that of the whole berry blended product when consumed once daily over the 1-week intervention period.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a rapidly growing global issue affecting the effective treatment of infectious diseases. This provides a window of opportunity for the use and implementation of well researched effective complementary therapies such as herbal medicines. In this literature review, an overview is provided of the effectiveness of herbal medicine to control symptoms of urinary tract in-fections and reduce antibiotic use.Methods: PubMed, CAM-Quest, CORE-Hom, ScienceDirect, CAMBase, Anthromedics.org and AnthroMedLi-brary databases were searched for peer-reviewed meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomized con-trolled trials from 2005 till 8 October 2020. Included were clinical studies on the use of herbal medicine for clinically diagnosed urinary tract infection with any control group except another herbal medicine. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.Results: Of the 408 citations identified, 23 met the inclusion criteria: 5 meta-analyses, 3 systematic re-views and 15 randomized controlled trials. Of these studies 13 involved the use of cranberry products, 4 studies concerned traditional Chinese herbal medicines, and 6 studies dealt with other herbal medicines.Conclusions: The latest published meta-analysis including 28 trials reports a clear benefit of Cranberry products for the prevention of recurrent UTIs in women. Five TCM formulas were found to be equally or more effective than antibiotics in the treatment of UTIs. Furthermore, Rosa canina seems to have the potential to prevent UTI in women undergoing a caesarean section. 'Acidif Plus Tablets' as well as 'Canephron' seem to be promising candidates for treating women with uncomplicated recurrent UTI.(c) 2022 Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )