Research reveals potential of Cranberry supplements for nursing home residents

Cranberries capsules have been championed as the natural alternative to anti-biotics for preventing bladder infections in vulnerable older nursing home residents.

Research carried out by the Public Health and Primary Care (PHEG) department of the Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands has said taking regular cranberry concentrate supplements could reduce bladder infections by over a quarter.

Researcher at the Leiden University Medical Center, Jacobijn Gussekloo said: “Among other particles, these berries contain the so-called PAC-particles that prevent the adhesion of infection-causing bacteria in the bladder wall.”

It is estimated half of vulnerable older people suffer from urinary tract infections (UTI) regularly, which is also the cause of up to 30 per cent of nursing home infections.

A year-long project tracked the positive effect cranberry capsules had, where 928 participants with an average age of 85 took cranberry concentrate supplements or a placebo regularly. Twenty per cent of people who were at a high risk of UTI avoided the infection after taking regular cranberry capsules during the study.

Monique Caljouw, researcher at the Leiden University Medical Center commented on the findings and said: “The Indians already knew the medicinal properties of these berries.”

The cranberry supplement used all parts of the cranberry and was described as the most appropriate cranberry preventative product.

Ms Caljouw said: “Vitamin C does not seem to work and cranberry juice has its disadvantages. The administration of a low dose of antibiotics causes resistance.”

Researchers said cranberry capsules do not have the high sugar levels or sour taste of cranberry juice and so are an easier option to ensure older people can minimise the chance of having regular urinary infection problems.