What is the effect of cranberry

Why are cranberries popular?

Historically, cranberries were an important economic crop for native Americans. In addition to nautical crews using it to prevent scurvy, the prevention of urinary tract infections is its most well-known effect.

The main components of cranberry are: water (accounting for 88%), organic acids (including salicylic acid), fructose, vitamin C (200 mg/kg), flavonoids, anthocyanins, catechins and triterpenoids, Nutrients can be said to be among the best in common fruits, so it is also known as ruby fruit.

Because cranberries are sour and astringent, they are difficult to eat raw. Therefore, they are usually sold in the market after processing. Commonly available are fruit juice, dried fruit, jam or capsule health products.

When to Eat Cranberries (How to Eat)? What dosage will help?

Current clinical studies have focused on cranberry juice, juice concentrate and dry extract (cranberry tablets or capsules), however, there is a lack of consistency in dosage regimens and no standard dosage.

In studies against urinary tract infections, daily doses of 25% pure cranberry juice ranged from 120 to 1000 ml, and concentrated cranberry extract in the form of lozenges or capsules used 600 mg to more than 1200 mg per day, respectively.

The best time to use is after meals. In addition, please confirm your physical condition with your doctor before use to ensure safety.

What are the recommended functions (benefits) of cranberry? 

1. prevent urinary tract infection

About 150 million people in the world suffer from urinary tract infection every year. Due to the influence of urinary tract structure, the lifetime prevalence rate of women can reach 60%, and the incidence rate is 50 times that of men. Common pathogenic factors and anterior urinary tract infection events, sexual activity, vaginal infections, diabetes, obesity, and genetic predisposition.

Cystitis is the most common UTI event, mainly uncomplicated

UTI), whereas complexities are often associated with structural or functional abnormalities (eg, urinary tract obstruction, neurologic disease, immunocompromised, renal dysfunction, or catheterization).

An earlier study (150 women ages 21 to 72) found that both cranberry juice and cranberry lozenges were significantly more effective in preventing UTIs, but lozenges were less expensive in terms of cost. Economical choice.

But be careful, the effect mentioned here is limited to prevention. Once there are obvious symptoms of urinary tract infection infection, the first line of drugs is still antibiotics.

Another literature review and meta-analysis (meta-analysis, including 7 randomized controlled trials, the participants were 1498 women over 18 years old with a history of urinary tract infection) pointed out that compared with placebo or untreated control objects , the use of cranberries was associated with a reduction in the recurrence of urinary tract infection events (magnitude of 26%).

The underlying mechanism may be related to the ability of A-type proanthocyanidins and fructose substances in cranberries to inhibit pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli) from adhering to the cell wall of the urinary tract.

2. Beneficial for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the accumulation of fat in the liver without any secondary cause, such as excessive alcohol consumption and viral liver disease.

NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease in the world, with a global prevalence of up to 1 billion people and a prevalence of 65% to 85% among obese patients. May cause nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

A randomized controlled trial (12 weeks in 41 NAFLD participants) showed that cranberry extract (288 mg daily) combined with a weight loss diet further lowered insulin and alanine compared to weight loss diet alone Alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

Another randomized controlled trial (110 NAFLD participants for 6 months) showed that cranberry extract (144 mg daily) reduced steatosis grade, total cholesterol, tri-acid Glycerides, insulin and markers of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

3. Increase the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a spiral-shaped Gram-negative bacillus that mainly colonizes the human mouth and stomach, and is rated as the most common human pathogen.

According to surveys, more than half of the world's population has been infected by this bacteria, and 5% to 10% of them have developed chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric cancer.

Treatment options include clarithromycin triple therapy, bismuth quadruple therapy, concomitant therapy, sequential therapy, combination therapy, levofloxacin triple therapy, and fluoroquinolone sequential therapy. However, the effectiveness of eradication treatments has been greatly reduced due to antibiotic resistance.

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (Meta-analysis, including 4 randomized controlled trials, a total of 1935 participants) pointed out that cranberry has a positive effect on the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in adults, but the relevant effect is not statistically significant.

4. Improve cardiovascular disease risk factors

Cardiovascular disease (Cardiovascular disease) is the leading cause of premature death and disability. Globally, cardiovascular disease accounts for 31% of deaths, most of which are coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular accidents.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 75% of early-stage cardiovascular disease is preventable, and improving risk factors (including dyslipidemia, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity) can help alleviate the growing increased disease burden.

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis (including 12 randomized controlled trials, with a total of 496 participants) found that cranberries significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and body mass index.

In addition, stratified analyzes showed that systolic blood pressure decreased more significantly among study participants whose mean age was greater than 50 years, while high-density lipoprotein concentrations increased significantly in the subgroup of subjects whose mean age was younger than 50 years.

5. Beneficial for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (Rheumatoid arthritis) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. The incidence rate of women is higher than that of men. It is mainly seen in the elderly. The clinical manifestations are joint pain, swelling, and even limited range of motion.

If the disease is poorly controlled or worsens, extra-articular manifestations such as keratitis, pulmonary granuloma, pericarditis/pleurisy, small vessel inflammation, and other non-specific extra-articular symptoms may occur.

A randomized controlled trial (90 days, 41 women with rheumatoid arthritis), divided into two groups, the control group maintained a normal diet, and the other group consumed 500 ml of low-calorie cranberry juice per day.

It was found that the disease activity score (DAS28) and cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (Anti-CCP antibody) values of the cranberry group decreased, but the values of inflammatory biomarkers did not change significantly.

6. Beneficial for type 2 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is chronic hyperglycemia and abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins caused by complete or partial deficiency of insulin secretion or action. There are two main forms, namely insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes, T1DM) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Type 2 diabetes is a multifactorial disease triggered by environmental and genetic risk factors, including sedentary, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, environmental endocrine disruptors, etc.

A literature review (systematic review, including 7 randomized controlled trials, a total of 270 patients with type 2 diabetes) pointed out that drinking cranberry juice (240 mL per day, for 12 consecutive weeks) or blueberry extract can bring about improved blood sugar control in diabetes. Favorable influence.

7. Improvement of Radiation Cystitis (complications caused by cancer treatment)

Radiation cystitis is the main side effect caused by radiation therapy for pelvic (colon, rectum, ovary, uterus and prostate) tumors, with a predilection rate of nearly 60%.

Usually, acute symptoms after treatment will appear within 2 to 3 weeks, and may include: urgency, frequency, dysuria, hematuria, urinary tract infection, etc.

Although symptoms can be relieved with treatment, there is currently no effective way to prevent radiation cystitis.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 2 weeks in 41 patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer found that postoperative cranberry extract, in addition to reducing radiation cystitis, compared with placebo The incidence and severity of pain and burning during urination were also lower (particularly in subjects on hypohydration therapy and with baseline urinary tract symptoms).

8. Good for cold prevention

The common cold is a self-limiting disease caused by more than 200 viruses (rhinovirus is the most common), which affects adults on average 2 to 4 times and children 4 to 8 times a year. It has a certain impact on the global economy, including absenteeism, Lost productivity, and losses from treatment costs.

Because it is a multiviral disease, a definitive medical treatment for the common cold remains elusive, so treatment is primarily aimed at relieving symptoms.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (10 weeks in 54 healthy adults) showed that drinking cranberry juice increased the proliferative response of gamma-delta T cells compared with placebo, although influenza, The incidence of colds did not decrease, but related symptoms were significantly reduced.