Cranberry

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

October 2006

Researchers have found that compounds in cranberry juice may not only help prevent urinary tract infections (more on that later), but could also be an alternative to antibiotics for other infections such as tooth decay, gastroenteritis and kidney infections.

By growing the digestive tract bacteria E. coli in various concentrations of cranberry juice or its tannin compounds known as proanthocyanidins, Dr Camesano of Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts in the US, and her team, observed an increasing effect on the bacteria with higher concentrations, which suggests that whole or undiluted cranberry products could have the greatest benefits.

By changing the shape of bacteria from rods to spheres, altering their cell membranes, and making it difficult for the bacteria to make contact with cells, E. coli was prevented by cranberry from adhering to cells, which is an initial step in all infections.

In previous research conducted by the team, it was discovered that cranberry juice caused the small tendrils known as fimbriae that exist on the surface of E. coli to become compressed, making it more difficult for the bacteria to bind to the urinary tract lining.

The finding of the current research that cranberry altered the rod shape of E. coli has never before been observed. Additionally, gram-negative E. coli began behaving like a gram-positive bacteria, leading the researchers to believe that cranberry juice altered the bacteria's cell membrane – yet another new finding.

"We are beginning to get a picture of cranberry juice and, in particular, the tannins found in cranberries as potentially potent antibacterial agents," Dr Camesano stated. "These results are surprising and intriguing, particularly given the increasing concern about the growing resistance of certain disease-causing bacteria to antibiotics."

While we’re on the topic of cranberries I thought it was worth revisiting their benefits against urinary tract infections.

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Why women are most at risk
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) like cystitis are extremely common, particularly among women. It’s estimated that up to one in every five women will develop an infection of the urinary tract during their lifetime.

The main reason why women are more prone to this condition is because the female urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body) is shorter than men’s. This allows bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli), which normally lives in the colon to reach the urethra where it can quickly multiply. The long male urethra offers better protection against urinary infections because it’s difficult for harmful bugs to reach it.

UTIs can be caused by a variety of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, worms, and fungi like the candida fungus that causes thrush. 85 per cent of the time these micro-organisms come from the bowel and can easily find their way from your anus to the outside opening of your urethra… from here they can eventually reach your bladder and result in an infection developing.

In addition, if you’re under stress, taking oral contraceptive drugs or eating too many sugary foods or carbohydrates your risk of suffering a UTI is greatly increased.
 
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Studies show that cranberries help keep UTIs at bay
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Cranberries work by preventing the bacteria from attaching themselves to the inside lining of your bladder and urethra.

Cranberries are also thought to help improve the overall health of your bladder and urethra, as they contain antioxidant plant chemicals which prevent chronic damage to the urinary tract from occurring.

The problem with deriving these benefits from drinking cranberry juice is that, for it to be effective, you would need to drink around 16 glasses a day. Many forms of cranberry juice on the market only contain very low amounts of cranberries, the rest is made up of water and sugar. Obviously this goes against the advice given earlier to avoid sugar. For this reason, a good alternative is to consider taking cranberries in supplement form instead. The recommended dosage is 600mg of concentrated cranberry tablets a day. 
                                          
.. and another thing
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A new study has found that women with a fault on the gene BRIP1 have double the risk of developing breast cancer.
 
Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research found that mutations in this gene lead to breast cancer more often than would be expected by chance and believe that it contributes to around 100 cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year in the UK.
 
The gene was studied in 1,212 women with breast cancer who had a family history of the disease that was not due to the known breast cancer genes, BRCA1 or BRCA2.
 
Results were then compared to 2,081 healthy women.
 
Nine BRIP1 faults were found in the breast cancer patients but only two were identified in the healthy individuals.
 
This faulty gene was found to increase a woman's risk of the disease by the age of 70 from one in 12 to around one in six.
 
Publishing their findings in the journal Nature Genetics, the researchers argue that the discovery could help doctors to identify women at increased risk of developing breast cancer and will allow preventative measures, better diagnosis and more tailored treatment to be undertaken in the future.
 
"BRIP1 is the latest gene we have found and leads to a small increased risk of breast cancer," said lead author Nazneen Rahman, professor of cancer genetics at The Institute of Cancer Research.
 
"We know there are many more genes still to find before we have the complete picture of the genetic causes of breast cancer, but with each step we are making progress."
 
Only 0.1 per cent of the general UK population (roughly 30,000 women) carry a damaged version of the BRIP1 and not all women with it will go on to develop breast cancer.
 
Responding to the findings, Professor John Toy, Cancer Research UK's medical director, said: "The discovery of a gene that increases breast cancer risk, even for a small number of women, is very important. 
 
"Scientists are now beginning to understand more about the genes that are linked to breast cancer and we hope this knowledge will help identify and better manage more women at an increased risk of the disease in the future."

Sources:
Home Health Nurs 1997;15(3):198-202
Pinn G. Aust Fam Physician 2002;30(10:974-977 Reid et al. Spinal Cord 2001;39(1):26-30

There's a very interesting Audio book called Secrets of the Grain Free Gourmet about creating tantalizing recipes that can be easily tolerated by people with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and celiac disease, among others.

       (Click the Image)

Editor
Healthy Living Store

Author: Peter Charalambos

Granted Expert Author Status