Hey, UTI warriors! We're on a mission to smash some persistent urinary tract infection (UTI) myths today. With misinformation swirling around these frustrating infections, we're setting the record straight, armed with science and modern know-how.
Myth 1: Only women get UTIs
False! Although women are more prone due to their anatomy, men are not immune. In fact, older men with prostate issues are particularly susceptible to a urinary tract infection(1). This misconception often leads to a delayed diagnosis and treatment in men, leading to potential complications.
Myth 2: UTIs result from poor hygiene
Not entirely! While hygiene does play a role, the typical UTI villain, E. coli bacteria, hails from the gut, not the urinary tract (2). The culprits often include sexual intercourse, urinary system abnormalities, and menopause (3).
Myth 3: UTIs always have symptoms
Surprisingly, no! While urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms can include things like a burning sensation during urination, cloudy or bloody urine, some UTIs are completely asymptomatic. When there are no apparent symptoms of UTIs, people with diabetes and older adults are especially at risk for these "silent" assailants (4).
Myth 4: All cranberry products are equally effective against UTIs
Cranberry products are hailed as a natural remedy against urinary tract infections (UTIs). But here's the kicker: not all cranberry products are created equal. Drinking cranberry juice, for instance, can be problematic because it's often loaded with sugar and lacks the necessary concentration of proanthocyanidins (PACs) to have any meaningful impact on urinary system health or susceptibility to urinary infection (5).
On the other hand, cranberry pills or supplements, particularly those rich in PACs, have shown promising results. PACs flush bacteria, preventing the E. coli bacteria from adhering to the bladder walls, and disrupting their UTI-causing havoc (6), which is all the more reason to do your due diligence and choose a high-quality, PAC-rich cranberry supplement.
Myth 5: A UTI will always clear up on its own
That's a risky gamble. If left untreated, a urinary tract infection can lead to a kidney infection, which can result in severe health implications, including kidney damage and sepsis (7). If you suspect you have a UTI, seek medical attention promptly.
Myth 6: D-Mannose is a useless supplement for UTIs
Let's topple this myth once and for all. D-Mannose, a type of sugar related to glucose, is surprisingly beneficial when it comes to warding off urinary tract infections. Why? It all boils down to how E. coli, the bacteria usually responsible for UTIs, operates.
E. coli binds to the sugars present on the surface of your urinary tract cells, allowing them to hang on and cause a urinary tract infection. D-Mannose works by mimicking these sugars, effectively becoming a decoy. The E.coli binds to the D-Mannose instead, and both are then flushed out through the urinary system during urination (8).
Remember, D-Mannose isn't just a random sugar. It's a potential ally in your UTI fight. And like our trusty cranberry PACs, it's another tool to arm yourself with in the ongoing battle against these troublesome infections. And remember this, too: not all cranberry supplements and cranberry capsules are created equal in the fight against UTIs! High-quality, PAC-rich cranberry supplements and D-Mannose supplements are your best bet. Stay informed, stay healthy, and say goodbye to urinary tract misconceptions!
References:
- Nicolle, L. E. (2013). Urinary tract infections in the older adult. Clinics in geriatric medicine, 29(3), 673-685.
- Schreiber, C., & Pitout, J. D. (2019). Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase- and AmpC-Beta-Lactamase-Producing E. coli in Urinary Tract Infections: An Emerging Threat. Pathogens, 8(4), 159.
- Foxman, B. (2014). Urinary tract infection syndromes: Occurrence, recurrence, bacteriology, risk factors, and disease burden. Infectious disease clinics of North America, 28(1), 1-13.
- Rowe, T. A., & Juthani-Mehta, M. (2013). Urinary tract infection in older adults. Aging health, 9(5), 519-528.
- Jepson, R. G., & Craig, J. C. (2008). Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (1).
- Howell, A. B., Botto, H., Combescure, C., Blanc-Potard, A. B., Gausa, L., Matsumoto, T., ... & Lavigne, J. P. (2010). Dosage effect on uropathogenic Escherichia coli anti-adhesion activity in urine following consumption of cranberry powder standardized for proanthocyanidin content: a multicentric randomized double blind study. BMC infectious diseases, 10(1), 1-10.
- Flores-Mireles, A. L., Walker, J. N., Caparon, M., & Hultgren, S. J. (2015). Urinary tract infections: epidemiology, mechanisms of infection and treatment options. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 13(5), 269-284.
- Gupta, K., Hooton, T. M., & Stamm, W. E. (2001). Increasing antimicrobial resistance and the management of uncomplicated community-acquired urinary tract infections. Annals of internal medicine, 135(1), 41-50.
- Vasileiou, I., Katsargyris, A., Theocharis, S., & Giaginis, C. (2013). Current clinical status on the preventive effects of cranberry consumption against urinary tract infections. Nutrition research, 33(8), 595-607.
- Fu, Z., Liska, D., Talan, D., & Chung, M. (2017). Cranberry reduces the risk of urinary tract infection recurrence in otherwise healthy women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of nutrition, 147(12), 2282-2288.
- Kranjčec, B., Papeš, D., & Altarac, S. (2014). D-mannose powder for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections in women: a randomized clinical trial. World journal of urology, 32(1), 79-84.
- Domenici, L., Monti, M., Bracchi, C., Giorgini, M., Colagiovanni, V., Muzii, L., & Panici, P. B. (2016). D-mannose: a promising support for acute urinary tract infections in women. A pilot study. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences, 20(13), 2920-2925.
- Lenger, S. M., Bradley, M. S., Thomas, D. A., Bertolet, M. H., Lowder, J. L., & Sutcliffe, S. (2020). Evaluation of the microbiome in women's health: analysis of its role in recurrent urinary tract infections. Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology, 32(5), 389-395.
