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Species
Content
Commonly Available Forms
Recommended Dosage for UTI
Prevention
Species
There are 150 species of cranberries in the world. The most popular species is
Vaccinium macrocarpon or the American cranberry. The plant is low-lying, grows
in the North America, produces pink flowers that produce berries, and has a
predilection to acidic bogs. Other species used in the production of cranberry
juice include V. oxycoccus and V. erythrocarpum. The United States produces 98%
of the world’s cranberries.
Content
Proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins: Inhibit bacterial adherence and prevent
UTIs
Organic Acids (quinic, malic, benzoic, and citric acid): urine acidification,
nephrolithiasis prevention
Vitamins (vitamin A, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C):
antioxidant
Minerals (sodium,potassium,calcium,magnesium,phosphorus,copper,sulfate,iron,iodide): antioxidant
Fiber
Carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, oligosaccharides)
Protein
Fat
Water
Commonly Available Forms
Dried Cranberry Powdered Capsules: 475 mg, 500 mg
Cranberry Juice Cocktail: consists of 10-20% pure cranberry
Concentrated Cranberry Juice
Cranberry Extract
Powdered Concentrates
Fresh or dried cranberries
Cranberry herbal teas
Recommended Dosage for UTI
prevention
The recommended doses vary greatly between different sources. These represent
the most commonly quoted dosages in recent literature.
10-16 oz of cranberry juice cocktail p.o. QD
2 – 6 oz cranberry concentrate p.o. QD
400 mg of cranberry extract p.o. QD
1-2 capsules cranberry concentrate tablets (capsules) p.o. QD
(The above capsule dose was the most commonly quoted dose.
The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine recommended taking 9-15 powdered
capsules every day (475-500 mg cranberry/capsule).)
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