Urinary tract health: How cranberry ingredients can be a powerful option

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) impact the daily quality of life for many people worldwide.​      

The Urology Care Foundation highlights the current situation: ‘UTIs cause more than 8.1 million visits to health care providers each year’.¹​

Further to this, a World Health Organization report found that common bacterial infections are becoming even more resistant to treatments. ‘Over 20% of E.coli​ isolates – the most common pathogen in urinary tract infections – were resistant to both first-line drugs (ampicillin and co-trimoxazole) and second-line treatments (fluoroquinolones)’.²​

In Europe, more than 60% of women have suffered from UTIs in the last three years and sought medical care. Furthermore, a survey conducted in five European countries (Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Russia and Italy) illustrated that recurrent UTIs have a significant impact on women’s quality of life.³​

What is a UTI?​

UTIs are infections that occur when bacteria, often from the skin or rectum, enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract. This can result in a bladder infection (cystitis), or kidney infection.⁴​

UTIs are among the most common infections, especially among women.⁵​ In fact, 60% of women will experience a UTI at some point in their lives.⁵​ Of these, around 20%-40% ​will suffer from a recurrent UTI (two or more occurrences within six months, or three within a year).⁵​ The cranberry botanical is one of the best-known solutions among consumers, with 63% of all consumers associating it with women’s health, and 49% linking it with urinary tract health.⁶​

UTI health impacts​

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of a bladder infection can include:    

• Pain or burning while urinating
• Frequent urination
• Feeling the need to urinate despite having an empty bladder
• Bloody urine
• Pressure or cramping in the groin or lower abdomen

Symptoms of a kidney infection can include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Lower back pain or pain in the side of your back
• Nausea or vomiting

UTIs are uncomfortable, and can make day-to-day life more challenging. For example, always needing to be near a bathroom is inconvenient. In addition, some people suffer from recurrent UTIs, which can significantly impact their quality of life as they experience uncomfortable symptoms and may need to take medication for a prolonged period.

Reducing ​the ​occurrence of UTIs​

There are numerous clinical studies based on cranberries for women’s health. As research shows, cranberry consumption may reduce the adhesion of Escherichia coli ​(E. coli​) to the cell wall of the urinary tract, which is the leading cause of UTIs.^6,7,8​

Pacran^TM​ is a 100% natural proprietary formulation of whole cranberry ingredients. It was specifically designed to optimise urinary tract health, and it aims to deliver efficacy. In multiple clinical studies, 500mg of Pacran^TM​ was shown to reduce the occurrence of UTIs in women with a history of having UTIs by more than 50% versus placebo.⁸​ Pacran^TM​ was also demonstrated to reduce E.coli​ adhesion activity in multiple ex-vivo​ studies.⁹​^-16​ The Pacran^TM​ formula has been analysed and assessed in several studies including in human clinical trials, which have been published in peer-reviewed journals.¹⁷​       

These studies are the foundation for a series of urinary tract health claims from around the world – from Qualified Health Claims from the US FDA to Pacran™ specific claims from South Korea and Colombia.¹⁸​^-20​      ​

Source: Vostalova J. et al. (2015).​​

The botanical, clean-label blend is made from sustainably-sourced cranberries from the US and Canada and is fully traceable to the farm. Givaudan works in long-term partnership with its suppliers in compliance with its Sourcing4Good programme, which promotes responsible sourcing and harvesting practices across its supply chains and aims to improve both producer livelihoods and the environmental footprint of its products.

Find out more about Pacran^TM​ and other natural ingredients on the Givaudan ​Health & Nutrition Hub​.​

References ​

1.​ Urology Care Foundation. What is a Urinary Tract Infection in Adults?​
2.​ World Health Organization. Report signals increasing resistance to antibiotics in bacterial infections in humans and need for better data.​
3.​ Wagenlehner, F.; et al. (2018). Social and economic burden of recurrent urinary tract infections and quality of life: a patient web-based study (GESPRIT).​ Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 18(1):107-117.
4.​ US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Urinary Tract Infection Basics.​
5.​ American Urological Association. Recurrent Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women: AUA/CUA/SUFU Guideline.​
6.​ Data on file (2021). Givaudan consumer study. Food for Health.
7.​ Cranberry Marketing Committee. Consumer research survey.
8.​ Aubrey, A. (2010). Bow Down To The Medicinal Power Of Cranberries.​
9.​ Flores-Mireles, A.L.; et al. (2015). Urinary tract infections: epidemiology, mechanisms of infection and treatment options.​ Nat Rev Microbiol. 2015 May;13(5):269-84.
10.​ Data on file. Howell A. et al. (2013) ‘Assessment of bacterial anti-adhesion activity of Pacran® in human urine against P-type uropathogenic Escherichia coli. A randomized, placebo-controlled, ex vivo, double-blind, crossover trial’.
11.​ Vostalova, J.; et al. (2015). Are High Proanthocyanidins Key to Cranberry Efficacy in the Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection?​ Phytother Res. 2015 Oct;29(10):1559-67.
12.​ Data on file. Howell A. et al. (2013) Assessment of bacterial anti-adhesion activity of Pacran® in human urine against P-type uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
13.​ Data on file. Howell A. et al. (2013). Assessment of bacterial anti-adhesion activity of Pacran® in human urine against P-type uropathogenic Escherichia coli. A randomized, placebo-controlled, ex vivo, double-blind, crossover trial.
14.​ Data on file. Howell A. et. al. (2009). Bacterial Anti‐adhesion Activity of Human Urine: Pacran Capsule vs. Urell Capsule Consumption.
15.​ Data on file. Howell A. et al. (2009). Bacterial Anti‐adhesion Activity of Human Urine Following 27%Cranberry Juice Cocktail vs. Pacran Capsule Consumption.
16.​ Data on file. Howell A. et al. (2009). Bacterial Anti‐adhesion Activity of Human Urine: PACran Capsule vs. Theracran Capsule Consumption.
17.​ Health Canada Natural Product Number 80053151. Claim wording: Helps prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women or used in Herbal Medicine to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). 15 August 2014.
18.​ S. Korea Food and Drug Administration. Claim wording: May help to maintain urinary tract health by preventing urinary tract infection. 3 November 2019.
19.​ Colombia (INVIMA). Claim wording: Helps in the management of recurrent UTI. 18 November 2015
20.​ US (FDA). 21 July 2020.