Save to favorites
This feature is restricted to active members.
Join now to save favorites and get all member benefits, including over 1,400 reviews.
Join NowAlready a member? Sign in here.
Our Members Asked:
Are cranberry supplements helpful for men? Can they help with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, prostatitis, or urinary tract infections?
Answer:
There is some clinical evidence that cranberry powders and extracts may be helpful for reducing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as frequency, urgency and nighttime urination, in men with non-bacterial prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as well as in men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Two studies have also found cranberry supplements to lower blood levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). Some studies suggest cranberry supplements may provide slight protection from cystitis or urinary tract infections during radiation treatment, but other studies have not shown a benefit. Be aware that men who are taking certain medications or who have certain conditions should not take cranberry supplements. Sign in to see the full answer >>
Join today to unlock all member benefits including full access to all CL Answers and over 1,400 reviews.
Join NowAlready a member? Sign In Here.
Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/
6 Comments
Join the conversation
Submit your comment
This feature is restricted to active members.
Join now to add comments and get all member benefits, including over 1,400 reviews.
Join NowAlready a member? Sign in here.
Agree to Comment Terms
Please abide by the following:
- If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
- If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
- Please be respectful in your tone.
- Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will posts that exceed 2,500 characters.
For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.
Your comment has been submitted
We will review your comment before it is posted.
Related CL Answers (5)
Join over 95,000 Members
Find the best products with instant access to our latest tests & reviews of over 1,400 health products.
Save money by finding high-quality products at lower cost.
Stay safe with the latest clinical findings, warnings, and expert answers.
Suggest products to test.
Stay informed with our e-newsletter.
LYNN7765
September 10, 2021My husband went into anaphylactic shock from aspirin and almost died years ago. He has adult-onset asthma and had nasal polyps removed some years before the medical emergency with aspirin. He's been taking Ellrua, which contains 36 mg of PAC, for about 2 weeks because he had repeated UTIs and has enlarged prostate. No bad reaction so far. This does make me wonder if the amount of salicylic acid is too small to cause problems, but we're going to discontinue the Elllura. You are the only people who have indicated that cranberry products contain salicylic acid. You may have just saved his life. He will not take any more cranberry concentrate. Thank you for this service. What you do is certainly worth the subscription cost.
Reply to this post…
Robert7756
November 27, 2016I am a man in his mid-60s who has recently experienced an increase in LUTS. Therefore, I am interested in the results you reported for patients using cranberry juice or powders. However, in one of your other reports (about using cranberry juice to treat UTIs), you mention that cranberry juice contains oxalates. I have a long history of forming kidney stones containing calcium oxalate, so I need to stay away from oxalates.
My question is this: Do the cranberry powders and/or pills that were tested also contain oxalates, or is this only a concern with the juices?
Thanks.
ConsumerLab.com
November 28, 2016Hi Robert - Unfortunately there does not seem to be clear information from manufacturers or other sources about the oxalate content of cranberry powders/pills. However, based on the amount of oxalate found in cranberry juice (1.89 mg per ounce of juice), some researchers estimated that one 450 mg tablet of cranberry concentrate might contain about 182 mg of oxalate (more than the estimated normal dietary intake of oxalate North American of 150 mg per day) (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0090429500008840 ). In this very small study among five men and women without a history of kidney stones, one 450 mg tablet of cranberry concentrate taken twice daily for one week increased urinary oxalate levels by an average of 43%, and the greatest increase was seen in someone who had a family history of kidney stones.) Interestingly, there were also increases in the urinary levels of the stone formation inhibitors magnesium and potassium by an average of 47.3% and 67.5%, respectively.) However, until oxalate levels in cranberry powders/pills are known for certain, and there are larger, longer-term clinical studies, it may be best to avoid cranberry supplements if you have a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
Reply to this post…
peter7753
November 20, 2016500mgs of cranberry powder contains 180mgs of OXALATE which i believe is very bad for the kidneys especially if you have mild damage. I was taking 1500mgs per day for BPH enlargement and i think it helped re urination, i have now stopped because of oxalate
Joe7755
September 10, 2021What brand of cranberry powder is recommended for purity and quality?
ConsumerLab.com
September 16, 2021Please see our Top Picks among cranberry products in our Cranberry Juices and Supplements Review https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/cranberry/cranberry/#toppicks.
Reply to this post…