Cowan, C.C., Hutchison, C., Cole, T., Barry, S.J., Paul, J., Reed, N.S., & Russell, J.M. (2011). A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of cranberry juice on decreasing the incidence of urinary symptoms and urinary tract Infections in patients undergoing radiotherapy for cancer of the bladder or cervix. Clinical Oncology, 24, e31–e38.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cranberry juice on the incidence of urinary tract infections and urinary symptoms in patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy for cancer of the bladder or cervix.
Participants were randomized to receive cranberry juice, twice a day (morning and night) for the duration of their radiotherapy treatment and for two weeks after treatment (six weeks in total) or a placebo beverage, for the same duration. The primary study end point was the percentage of patients who experienced an increase in the Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) grade of their urinary symptoms or developed a urinary tract infection during the period of six weeks. The laboratory diagnosis of a urinary tract infection was based on a significant isolate of a single organism (i.e., 100,000 ml or heavy growth) in a non-catheterized patient and/or other abnormal findings, such as pus cells in the urine with or without subjective symptoms. Patients were required to provide weekly urine samples and to keep a daily diary to record their bladder symptoms and compliance with drinking the juice.
A single-site outpatient setting in Scotland
Acute treatment
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
The incidence of increased urinary symptoms or urinary tract infections was 82.5% in the cranberry juice group and 89.3% in the placebo group (p = 0.24, adjusted odds ratio [cranberry/placebo] 0.48, 95% CI [0.14, 1.63]).
This study did not provide support for effect of cranberry juice for prevention of urinary tract infections in this group of patients.
This study did not support effectiveness of drinking cranberry juice for prevention of urinary tract infections in patients receiving pelvic irradiation. The study had multiple limitations. No conclusions can be drawn from this study report due to limitations and small sample size.