WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants - travolekar.ru

<strong>WHO</strong> <strong>monographs</strong> on selected medicinal plants
the trial, and the diagnostic criteria for the UTI were much lower than
those used in any other trial (10 3 colony-forming units/l of a pathogenic
organism).
The results of this trial were confirmed in a double-blind, placebocontrolled,
cross-over study involving 15 paediatric patients with neurogenic
bladder receiving clean intermittent catheterization (17). Two
ounces of cranberry juice concentrate (equal to 300 ml of cranberry juice
cocktail) or a placebo were administered daily for 3 months, followed by
a 3-month cross-over (no washout period was described). Weekly home
visits were made, during which a sample of bladder urine was obtained by
intermittent catheterization. Signs and symptoms of UTI and all medications
were recorded, and compliance was assessed. The results of the
study demonstrated that during consumption of the cranberry concentrate,
the frequency of bacteriuria remained high. Cultures of 75% (114)
of the 151 samples obtained during consumption of placebo were positive
for a pathogen ( 10 4 colony-forming units/ml) compared with 75% (120)
of the 160 samples obtained during consumption of cranberry concentrate.
Escherichia coli remained the most common pathogen during periods
of consumption of placebo and cranberry. Three symptomatic infections
occurred during the period of treatment with the placebo and three
during the period of treatment with the cranberry juice. No significant
difference was observed between the acidification of urine in the placebotreated
group and that in the cranberry-treated group (median, 5.5 and
6.0, respectively). Thus, cranberry ingestion did not reduce bacteriuria or
symptomatic UTIs in this population (17). Unfortunately the only outcomes
measured were bacteriuria and presence of symptoms and no blood
cell counts were performed.
A review of these clinical data on cranberry juice and supplements in
paediatric populations indicates that these products are not effective for
the treatment of UTIs in children with neuropathic bladder (22).
In an uncontrolled trial involving 13 urostomy patients, the effects of
cranberry juice on skin complications were assessed (40). Patients were
treated with 160 to 320 ml of cranberry juice daily for 6 months. The results
of this study showed an improvement of the skin conditions in four
urostomy patients with peristomal skin disorders. A decrease in erythema,
maceration and pseudoepithelial hyperplasia was observed, but no
effects on urine acidity were noted (40).
A study was performed to assess the effects of cranberry on the complications
of long-term indwelling bladder catheterization (e.g. encrustation
and blockage by crystalline Proteus mirabilis biofilms). Urine was
collected from groups of volunteers who had been treated with up to
160