Cranberry (Supplement) for Urinary Tract Health

Research suggests that cranberry supplements may help support urinary tract health by reducing the ability of UTI-causing E. coli bacteria to adhere to cells in the urinary tract. The available evidence comes from a single small randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving 20 participants, which found that urine collected after cranberry chew consumption showed significant anti-adhesion activity against uropathogenic E. coli for up to 24 hours, though the effect varied depending on the bacterial strain and time window examined. While the direction of this research is supportive, the evidence base is currently limited to one small pilot study, meaning the findings should be considered preliminary. Larger and longer-term clinical trials would be needed to confirm whether these observed biological effects translate into meaningful real-world reductions in UTI occurrence.