IC Disease

Research was conducted (you can view the entire report HERE) to determine whether cranberry or trimethoprim should be used for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections. The research consisted of a randomized controlled trial in older women.

During the trial, almost 140 women with two or more antibiotic-treated UTIs in the previous year were randomized to receive either 500 mg of cranberry extract or 100 mg of trimethoprim for 6 months.  Here were the results:

• 28% had an antibiotic-treated UTI (25 in the cranberry group and 14 in the trimethoprim group)
• “Trimethoprim had a very limited advantage over cranberry extract in the prevention of recurrent UTIs in older women and had more adverse effects.”

The research findings suggest that older women with recurrent urinary tract infections will be able to discuss with their doctors a cheaper, natural product like cranberry extract for UTI treatment over a medication like trimethoprim, which the body can become resistant to.

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