ABSTRACT
The primary health-promoting benefit for which cranberry consumption has been used is to maintain urinary tract health. The efficacy of cranberry for urinary tract health is likely due to multiple effects that include anti-adhesion activity, modulation of bacterial motility, bactericidal activity and immune modulation by Cranberry Proanthocyanidins (PACs) and their metabolites. Efficacy has been demonstrated for a variety of preparations including cranberry juice, cranberry juice cocktail, cranberry juice extracts, dried fruit, solid extracts and a syrup containing a cranberry juice extract. PACs in cranberry juice and juice powders are soluble and bioactive, whereas the PACs in the whole berry, whole berry powders and presscake powders are mostly insoluble and show little bioactivity. A. Howell et al. demonstrated for the first time how cranberry PAC ingestion resulted in urine with bacterial anti-adhesion activity in vivo. Consumption of cranberries and cranberry products has been widely recommended for the maintenance of urinary tract health in general.
