Cranberry Health News

The Cranberry Institute was thrilled to attend the virtual 2020 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo™ (FNCE®). Thank you to those that visited our booth and enjoyed our video about growing cranberries! Together with more than 13,500 attendees from 66 countries, we digitally gathered to bring registered dietitian nutritionists the latest information about the whole-body health benefits of cranberries – including new research about H. pylori and the new qualified health claim. In case you missed it, we’re pleased to share details in this newsletter, including our newest resource on how to give thanks with cranberries year-round! Plus, more than 800 attendees told us their *berry* favorite ways to enjoy cranberries which had our mouths watering. We were also honored to have Dr. Amy Howell discuss the latest research on cranberries and H. pylori during a 1-hour presentation – read on for more details on this study!

New Research Supports Cranberry PACs Can Help Reduce H. pylori Infection Rates

New research published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology provides clinical evidence supporting cranberry as a complementary approach to H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) management. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial found drinking cranberry juice containing 44 mg of proanthocyanidins (or "PACs") per 8 ounce serving twice daily for eight weeks resulted in a 20% reduction in the H. pylori infection rate in Chinese adults when compared to those consuming lower amounts of juice and a placebo.1 A ½-cup serving of 100% pure cranberry juice contains about 44 mg of PAC, which when taken twice daily in the morning and evening, should be equivalent to the levels in the clinical study needed to achieve H. pylori suppression. It may be added to other juices, seltzer water, etc.

Peptic ulcer disease affects over 4.5 million men and women annually in the U.S., and about 10% of the U.S. population has evidence of a duodenal ulcer at some time. The proportion of people with H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease steadily increases with age.2,3 H. pylori infection accounts for 90% of duodenal ulcers,4 which when untreated, increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.5 The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2020, 27,600 people in the US are expected to get stomach cancer and 11,010 are expected to die from it.6

Check out the CI’s latest handout for health professionals here, and for patients and clients here.

References

1. Zhe-Xuan L, Jun-Ling M, Yang G, Wei-Dong L, Ming L, et al. Suppression of Helicobacter pylori infection by daily cranberry intake: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J. Gastroenterol Hepatol. August 2020; doi: 10.1111/jgh.15212.

2. Open Access Publications. Available at: https://www.omicsonline.org/united-states/peptic-ulcer-peer-reviewed-pd…, accessed 10/5/2020.

3. Medscape.com. What is the prevalence of Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) in the U.S.? https://www.medscape.com/answers/181753-13866/what-isthe-prevalence-of-peptic-ulcer-disease-pud-in-the-us. Accessed 9/29/2020.

4. Malik TF, Gnanapandithan K, Singh K. Peptic Ulcer Disease. [Updated 2020 Jun 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534792/

5. Suerbaum S, Michetti P. Helicobacter pylori infection. New Engl J Med 2002;347:1175-1186.

6. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures. https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-fact…, accessed 9/29/2020

New Qualified Health Claim Further Supports AUA Guidelines for Cranberry and Recurrent UTIs

Announced earlier this year, guidelines for Recurrent Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women: AUA/CUA/SUFU Guideline (2019) were released by the American Urological Association (AUA), in combination with the Canadian Urological Association and Society of Urodyamincs, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU). The guidelines indicate cranberry products, in juice and tablet form, may be used as a non-antibiotic prophylactic option for those affected by recurrent UTIs.

The new qualified health claims support this stating that “consuming one serving (8 oz) each day of a cranberry juice beverage containing 27% cranberry juice may help reduce the risk of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in healthy women. The FDA has concluded that the scientific evidence supporting this claim is limited and inconsistent.” Additionally, “consuming 500 mg each day of cranberry dietary supplement may help reduce the risk of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in healthy women. FDA has concluded that there is limited scientific evidence supporting this claim.” Check out the CI’s latest handout here.

The Measurement of Cranberry Flavan-3-ol Metabolism and Excretion

While cranberries are a known source of polyphenols, details about their absorption, metabolism and excretion is limited. This study was designed to examine these stages by measuring biomarkers of flavan-3-ol in the plasma and urine. This crossover, randomized, double-blinded, controlled intervention study was performed in ten healthy men who consumed a cranberry juice drink of 5 different total flavan-3-ols amounts or an isocaloric control drink with one-week washout period. The metabolites reached their highest combined concentrations in the plasma after about 4-6 hours after consuming. The metabolites increased in the plasma and urine in relation to increased amounts of cranberry flavan-3-ols, showing a dose-dependent relationship between cranberry intake and the flavan-3-ol biomarkers. There was a high variability between individuals and the plasma and urinary metabolite amounts and some participants seemed to be more efficient in metabolizing flavan-3-ols.

Favari C, Mena P, Curti C, Istas G, Heiss C, Del Rio D, Rodriguez-Mateos A. Kinetic profile and urinary excretion of phenyl-γ-valerolactones upon consumption of cranberry: a dose-response relationship. Food Funct. 2020 May 1;11(5):3975-3985. doi: 10.1039/d0fo00806k. Epub 2020 May 12.

To stay up-to-date with cranberry health science, visit the Cranberry Health Research Library. The Library is your source for research abstracts and references categorized by topic areas. The whole-body investigations include the study of cranberries and the health of the urinary tract, heart and gut. Studies also explore cranberry’s role in cancer prevention, glucose metabolism and inflammation. 

Discover our latest comprehensive chronicle of cranberry’s existing and emerging whole-body health benefits.

The Cranberry Chronicles are consistently updated with breaking scientific abstracts, articles, sharable resources, infographics and story ideas. Learn more by reading The Cranberry Chronicles!

Follow us on Twitter @CranInstitute for updates on cranberry research, recipes and fun facts!