Cranberry juice is rich in antibacterial substances that can defeat childhood bladder infections.
The researchers found that cranberry juice contains a high concentration of proanthocyanidins (ASG), which can reduce the risk of urinary tract infections in children by 67%.
However, such content of ASG, according to the researchers, was not found in all the juices on the shelves of supermarkets.
According to the results published in the journal about urology, we can conclude that cranberries can help in the fight against pediatric urology.
Women have long noticed the beneficial properties of cranberry juice in preventing the recurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
A study was conducted on children with UTI. It was revealed that 8% of girls in childhood are susceptible to urinary tract infections, while the probability of illness in boys is 2%. To prevent urinary tract infections from further causing bladder infections, doctors may prescribe antibiotics.
But antibiotics are known to have side effects, and their long-term use can cause the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. Thus, researchers believe that cranberries can be a good alternative. Last year, scientists from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver conducted an experiment on 40 children who had UTI. They introduced cranberry juice into their daily diet.
Over the next year, 75% of children who drank cranberry juice showed a decrease in UTI.
Cranberry Efficiency Against UTI “was initially seen as grandma’s tales,” says Dr. Hip Nuen of Boston Children's Hospital.
But now, Dr. Nuen often recommends cranberries in the form of juice or supplements to his patients. “It can be a great alternative to preventative antibiotics,” the doctor says.
This does not mean that cranberries are a panacea for all ills. But if the child has frequent UTIs, then, according to Nuen, antibiotics are necessary.
Drinking a sufficient amount of fluid and regular urination, if necessary, will solve the problem of constipation, all of which are considered important in repelling UTIs in children.
Nguyen warns parents that if children have problems with urination, they need to see a doctor, and not rely only on cranberry juice. After all, as studies have shown, there is no guarantee that the juice that you bought in the store will contain a sufficient amount of ASG. “The results of this study should not be construed as commercial advertising for cranberry products,” the researchers write under the direction of Dr. Korosh Afsher.
“Pure cranberry juice tastes bad,” said Nuen. Therefore, manufacturers often mix it with something more pleasant, such as apple juice, or add a lot of sugar. And this, in turn, reduces the content of ASG components in the juice. It is also important, Nuen noted, not to overdo it with cranberry juice. A daily dose is prescribed for each child, depending on its weight.
