Cranberry juice and cranberry extracts have shown benefit in preventing and treating urinary tract infections in several double-blind studies. New data indicates they may also be of benefit in men with nonbacterial chronic prostatitis.
Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis
Prostatitis occurs when the prostate becomes inflamed or swollen. It is considered a chronic condition when the symptoms last for several weeks. Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis most often is the result of damage or inflammation to the connective tissue barrier of the inner lining of the prostate that prevents potentially harmful materials in urine from breaking through to deeper tissues. Symptoms include:
- Voiding issues, including a weak or intermittent urinary stream, straining, hesitancy, terminal dribbling and incomplete emptying
- Storage issues, including urgency, frequency, urgency incontinence and nocturia
New Data
In a study published in April 2010 in the British Journal of Nutrition, 42 men with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis received either 1,500 mg of dried, powdered cranberries per day for six months or a placebo. At the end of the study, the cranberry group experienced significant improvements in their International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life, and urine flow and other voiding parameters, but the control group did not. The mean IPSS declined by 4.48 points in the cranberry group compared with an increase of 1.43 in the control group.
Reference
Vidlar A, Vostalova J, Ulrichova J, et al. The effectiveness of dried cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Br J Nutr. 2010 Oct;104(8):1181-9. Epub 2010 Aug 31.
