Medical research divided on cranberries' worth in combating bacterial infection

Despite the taste and nutritional value of eating cranberries, medical researchers cannot agree on their medical value. Some have found that cranberries are remarkably useful in treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) and certain other bacteria-borne ailments, while others disagree, according to Time magazine.

The news source also reports that UTI self-treatment with cranberries may not be the best option, since certain UTI symptoms can mirror those of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For example, chlamydia can cause painful urination and bleeding, both of which can occur with UTIs.

The data of a study conducted by Dutch medical researchers, 221 women who regularly experienced UTIs were divided into two groups - one treated with a common UTI antibiotic, the other given a cranberry extract treatment.

At first, the study shed doubt on cranberries' worth, as those taking antibiotics had an average of 1.8 infection recurrences compared to 4 recurrences in the cranberry treatment group.

However, a later test of fecal matter and E. coli bacteria samples from the women found that the bacteria in women on antibiotics was often resistant to the drugs. Only about a quarter of the women taking cranberry extract showed bacterial resistance in their samples.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that approximately 24,000 US women become infertile each year due to untreated STDs.