SynthesisPloS one2021
Consumption of cranberry as adjuvant therapy for urinary tract infections in susceptible populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 64 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cranberry Research Progress: A Systematic Review of Chemical Composition, Pharmacological Mechanisms, Clinical Applications, and Nutritional Significance.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Cranberry-derived bioactives for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections: antimicrobial mechanisms and global research trends in nutraceutical applications.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Pooled it
- Original Article Phytotherapy in Adults With Recurrent Uncomplicated Cystitis.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2022Pooled it
- Comparative Evaluation of Three Cranberry Formulations in Women with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: An Observational Study.Research and reports in urology · 2026Trial
- Article
- Anthocyanin-Rich Pigment Supplements in the Australian Online Market: Sources, Labelling Practices, and Bioactivity Claims.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Nutritional bioactives for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in children: microbiome-mediated mechanisms and clinical implications.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
- Probiotics and Plant-Based Foods as Preventive Agents of Urinary Tract Infection: A Narrative Review of Possible Mechanisms Related to Health.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Bacterial adhesion strategies and countermeasures in urinary tract infection.Nature microbiology · 2025Review
- [Cranberry juice, cranberry tablets, or increased fluid intake for urinary tract infections: a systematic literature search and network meta-analysis].Urologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025Article
- Natural Products in the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction and Infection.Handbook of experimental pharmacology · 2025Review
- Effects of a supplement associatingInvestigative and clinical urology · 2025Article
- The Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2024Review
- Cranberry Polyphenols and Prevention against Urinary Tract Infections: New Findings Related to the Integrity and Functionality of Intestinal and Urinary Barriers.Journal of agricultural and food chemistry · 2024Article
- Plant phenolics inhibit focal adhesion kinase and suppress host cell invasion by uropathogenicInfection and immunity · 2024Article
- Cranberries for prevention of UTIs.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2024Article
- Therapeutic strategies for uncomplicated cystitis in women.GMS infectious diseases · 2024Review
- Cystitis and UtiproHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Review
- Novel Key Ingredients in Urinary Tract Health-The Role of D-mannose, Chondroitin Sulphate, Hyaluronic Acid, andNutrients · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The efficacy of cranberry (Vaccinium spp.) as adjuvant therapy in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) remains controversial. This study aims to update and determine cranberry effects as adjuvant therapy on the recurrence rate of UTIs in susceptible groups. According to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a literature search in Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from their inception dates to June 2021. We included articles with data on the incidence of UTIs in susceptible populations using cranberry-containing products. We then conducted a trial sequential analysis to control the risk of type I and type II errors. This meta-analysis included 23 trials with 3979 participants. We found that cranberry-based products intake can significantly reduce the incidence of UTIs in susceptible populations (risk ratio (RR) = 0.70; 95% confidence interval(CI): 0.59 ~ 0.83; P<0.01). We identified a relative risk reduction of 32%, 45% and 51% in women with recurrent UTIs (RR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.56 ~ 0.81), children (RR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.31 ~ 0.97) and patients using indwelling catheters (RR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.33 ~ 0.73). Meanwhile, a relative risk reduction of 35% in people who use cranberry juice compared with those who use cranberry capsule or tablet was observed in the subgroup analysis (RR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.54 ~ 0.77). The TSA result for the effects of cranberry intake and the decreased risk of UTIs in susceptible groups indicated that the effects were conclusive. In conclusion, our meta-analysis demonstrates that cranberry supplementation significantly reduced the risk of developing UTIs in susceptible populations. Cranberry can be considered as adjuvant therapy for preventing UTIs in susceptible populations. However, given the limitations of the included studies in this meta-analysis, the conclusion should be interpreted with caution.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.