Cranberry-derived OTC UTI treatment found to be as effective as Rx antibiotic

KEARNY, N.J. A recent study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, a peer-reviewed publication, has found that the administration of Cran-Max was comparable to the commonly prescribed antibiotic, trimethoprim, for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in older women.

“Our trial is the first to evaluate cranberry (Cran-Max) in the prevention of recurrent UTIs specifically in older women, and the first head-to-head double-blind comparison of cranberry versus antibiotic prophylaxis,” stated )Proprietary Nutritionals, which markets Cran-Max. “Trimethoprim had a very limited advantage over cranberry extract (Cran-Max) in the prevention of recurrent UTIs in older women and had more adverse effects.”

“This is a landmark study for Cran-Max and the nutritional supplement industry demonstrating the benefits of a natural product for prevention,” stated Sherry Torkos, author of The Benefits of Berries. “Prevention of UTI with antibiotics is effective but undesirable due to side effects, most commonly diarrhea, upset stomach and yeast infection.”

“Antimicrobial resistance is another concern,” said Torkos. “In fact, resistance to trimethoprim in bacteria causing UTIs has been steadily increasing in Northern European and American countries from as high as 15 percent in the 1970s to about 24 percent in 2004.”

“This study comes on the heels of another landmark study sponsored by a European government agency that commenced in 2005 on 560 women which will be completed this month,” stated Dean Mosca, president of Proprietary Nutritionals. “It compares Cran-Max to a 480 mg dose of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for a one-year period. A comprehensive body of science is developing for Cran-Max as an efficacious, recommended UTI preventative by medical professionals,” he said.

Urinary tract infections are the most common infection in older adults, and the second most common infection in women.