Cranberry Extract Reduces Incidence of UTIs in Diabetic Patients Prescribed SGLT-2 Medications

by | Aug 21, 2024 | 2024, Bladder Health, Diabetes, Fruits and Vegetables, Recent Articles

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Science Writer. The data showed that the rate of infection was significantly lower in the treatment versus placebo during the trial (P = 0.001).

cranberriesDiabetes is a significant health problem expected to affect 12.2% of the world population between 20-79 years old by 20451. To manage symptoms of type 2 diabetes, patients are generally prescribed sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors2. Although sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are effective in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body weight, HbA1C and improving glycemic control, individuals frequently report urinary tract infections (UTIs) while using this medication3-5. A possible remedy to the frequency of UTIs would be incorporation of cranberry products6,7. Various trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of cranberry supplements for chronic UTIs8,9. In the current trial, researchers investigated the effectiveness of cranberry supplementation in preventing UTIs in patients prescribed SGLT-2 inhibitors2.

Researchers recruited diabetic postmenopausal women who were current inpatients at a hospital. Eligible participants had to be over the age of 70 with a BMI between 20 and 30 kg/m2. Participants also had to have type 2 diabetes for more than 10 years with at least one incident of UTI within the previous year. The study was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, double-blind trial. The total duration of the study was six months. Urinary analysis was conducted at baseline, after 2 months, four months, and six months to detect UTI. Fasting blood glucose was also measured at baseline and at six months. All subjects were randomly assigned to receive placebo or 120mg cranberry extract capsule, which they were expected to take once daily in the morning with a meal. The cranberry supplement used in this trial was formulated with phospholipids and standardized to 6-9% proanthocyanidins. Dietary restrictions were also imposed to limit polyphenol consumption during the six-month trial period. Quality of life assessment was done using the Short Form 12-item Health Survey (SF12) questionnaire. Adverse events and interactions were reported as well as any modifications in glycemic status. The primary outcome was prevention of UTI during the supplementation period. Secondary outcomes were quality of life, alteration in glycemic status, and adverse events.

Of 53 postmenopausal women eligible for this trial, 46 women completed the study. The average age of participants was 72.45 ±1.76 years old and average BMI was 25.97 ±1.44 kg/m2. Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between the supplement and placebo group. Also, quality of life improved significantly in both the placebo and the treatment group. Over the six months, 6 UTIs occurred in the placebo group while only one occurred in the supplement group. Statistical evidence based on the data showed that the rate of infection was significantly lower in the treatment versus placebo during the trial (P = 0.001). No interactions were observed between the supplement and SGLT-2 inhibitor in the treatment group and no safety concerns or adverse events were reported in either group. Glycemic status was not affected in either group as well.

The primary outcome of this study showed that 120mg supplementation with a highly standardized cranberry extract formulated with phospholipids over six months was associated with a significant reduction in urinary tract infections in patients prescribed SGLT-2 inhibitors. Additional studies will be needed to verify these findings.

Source: Rondanelli, Mariangela, Francesca Mansueto, Clara Gasparri, Sebastiano Bruno Solerte, Paola Misiano, and Simone Perna. “Supplementation with Highly Standardized Cranberry Extract Phytosome Achieved the Modulation of Urinary Tract Infection Episodes in Diabetic Postmenopausal Women Taking SGLT-2 Inhibitors: A RCT Study.” Nutrients 16, no. 13 (2024): 2113.

© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).

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Posted August 21, 2024.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

References:

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