Effects of a Cranberry, Probiotic, and Vitamin C Supplement on Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Children-A Cohort Study.

The supplement significantly reduced UTI recurrence in children without VUR, with median episodes decreasing from 3 to 0.

• The reduction in median UTI episodes from 3 to 0 was statistically significant (p < 0.001) in children without vesicoureteral reflux.
• The study enrolled 39 children aged 3-16 years in a prospective, self-controlled observational design.
• The supplement was administered for 6 months, followed by a 6-month observation period, with UTI recurrence compared before and after the 12-month study period.

The supplement significantly reduced UTI recurrence in children with mild-to-moderate VUR, with median episodes decreasing from 2 to 0.

• The reduction in median UTI episodes from 2 to 0 was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in children with VUR.
• This subgroup included children with mild-to-moderate vesicoureteral reflux.
• The consistent benefit in VUR patients supports the supplement as a non-antibiotic alternative even in this higher-risk subgroup.

Overall, 69.2% of participants remained infection-free throughout the follow-up period.

• 27 of 39 participants remained infection-free throughout follow-up.
• The remaining participants (approximately 30.8%) experienced a reduced number of UTI episodes compared with the pre-supplementation period.
• Subgroup analyses showed consistent benefit across age and sex.

Children with higher baseline UTI frequency experienced the greatest reduction in UTI episodes.

• Subgroup analyses identified baseline UTI frequency as a predictor of treatment benefit.
• This finding was consistent across age and sex subgroup analyses.
• The self-controlled design allowed pre- and post-supplementation comparisons within the same participants.

Escherichia coli remained the predominant pathogen and the diversity of other uropathogens changed minimally, indicating fewer infections rather than microbial shifts.

• Microbiological analyses assessed pathogen distribution before and after the intervention.
• The preservation of E. coli as the main pathogen suggests the supplement reduced infection frequency without substantially altering the microbiological profile of UTIs.
• The diversity of other uropathogens changed minimally across the study period.

The supplement was well tolerated, with mild gastrointestinal symptoms reported in 12.8% of participants and no serious adverse events.

• 5 of 39 participants (12.8%) experienced mild gastrointestinal symptoms.
• No serious adverse events were reported during the study.
• Safety and tolerability were monitored throughout the intervention and observation periods.

The study evaluated a standardized combination supplement containing cranberry extract, two probiotic strains, and vitamin C administered daily for 6 months.

• The supplement contained 36 mg proanthocyanidins daily from cranberry extract.
• Probiotic strains included Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum.
• Vitamin C was administered at 250 mg daily.
• The supplementation period was 6 months, followed by a 6-month observation period in 39 children aged 3-16 years.