title: Cranberry juice for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections: a randomized controlled trial in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compares the effects of daily cranberry juice to those of Lactobacillus in children with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four girls aged between 3 and 14 years were randomized to cranberry, Lactobacillus or control in three treatment arms: G1, cranberry juice 50 ml daily (n=28); G2, 100 ml of Lactobacillus GG drink on 5 days a month (n=27); and G3, controls (n=29). The study lasted for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only four subjects withdrew: 1/28 (3.5%) from G1, 1/27 (3.7%) from G2 and 2/29 (6.8%) from G3, because of poor compliance to the established protocol. There were 34 episodes of UTIs in this cohort: 5/27 (18.5%) in G1, 11/26 (42.3%) in G2 and 18/27 (48.1%) in the G3, with at least one episode of infection (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that daily consumption of concentrated cranberry juice can significantly prevent the recurrence of symptomatic UTIs in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University, A. Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy. pferrara@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romaniello
authors.forename: Ottavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vitelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serva
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cataldi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001628:Beverages; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029799:Vaccinium macrocarpon
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations