Should You Take Cranberry Pills for UTI
Your urinary tract is made up of several parts, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. Symptoms of a UTI include burning when you urinate, the urgency to urinate, and foul-smelling, cloudy urine. You may also notice fever, lower abdominal pressure, or back pain. While both men and women can develop a UTI, four times as many women are diagnosed with these infections.
The 7 Best Cranberry Supplements of 2023: Improve Your Urinary Health and Immune Support
When it comes to urinary health, cranberry supplements are one of the best things you can add to your daily health regimen. Whether you’re looking to restore your pH balance , protect your flora from yeast infections, or help get rid of bacterial infections, the best cranberry supplements are known for their healing and protective properties.
Studies show that the best cranberry supplements might help reduce urinary tract infections , relieve some of the most unpleasant symptoms, and even prevent them from happening in the first place. Still, there are many factors that differentiate these fruit-packed pills like the quality of the ingredients, third-party testing, and certifications like non-GMO and organic. We kept these factors in mind when researching the best cranberry supplements—here are our seven favorites.
Why Trust Us?
The health and safety of ACTIVE’s readers is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your well-being when consuming dietary supplements, the ACTIVE.com editorial team prioritizes products that are independently tested by a third party. We’ve consulted with a team of nutritionists and dieticians to ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. This helps us create the most accurate, authentic review content for our readers.
The Best Cranberry Supplements – Our Top Picks
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- Bold Botanica Bold Cranberry Plus – Cranberry Capsules
- GNC Herbal Plus® Cranberry Fruit 500MG – 100 Capsules
- AZO Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Dietary Supplement
- Nature’s Bounty Cranberry 4200mg With Vitamin C, Urinary Health & Immune Support
- Zazzee USDA Organic Cranberry Extract, 12,500 mg Strength
- Sustainably US Grown, Organic Cranberry Juice Powder
- Immunia Urinary Health. Cranberry & Elderberry Concentrate.
Bold Botanica Bold Cranberry Plus
SPECS
- Dosage: 1 capsule per serving
- Type: Capsule
- Certifications: Third-party tested
Bold Botanica is known for its high-quality supplements and potent extracts, and its Bold Cranberry Plus is no different. Each serving contains 36 mg of soluble PACs and 100 mg of non-GMO vitamin C to further support your immune system function. Plus, you also get super-concentrated extracts (not raw powder), and it’s made without any artificial ingredient, filler, thickener, or sweetener. It’s also third-party tested and confirmed with DMAC/A2 testing methodology that shows how potent the soluble juice PACs actually are when compared to insoluble extracts from skin and seeds.
What We Like
- Sugar-free
- 36mg of soluble potent cranberry extracts
- Non-GMO
- Third-party tested
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
- No flavor so might not taste good
- Although mostly positive, very few ratings
GNC Herbal Plus® Cranberry Fruit 500MG
SPECS
GNC Herbal Plus ® Cranberry Fruit 500MG is a powerful cranberry supplement that contains 500 mg of cranberry extract per serving. Designed to help support urinary health and prevent infections, this potent supplement aims to be an ally to an already-healthy diet.
The product is made without any artificial ingredients, fillers, additives, or sweeteners. It’s also sugar-free, dairy-free, and GMO-free. It does contain gelatin, so it’s not suitable for vegans, as well as soy lecithin which might potentially create digestive issues in some people who are sensitive to this ingredient.
What We Like
- Clean ingredients
- No artificial ingredients, sugars, or GMOs
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Not suitable for vegans
- Contains soy lecithin
AZO Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Dietary Supplement
SPECS
AZO Cranberry Urinary Tract Health Supplement comes in the form of soft gels, and is packed with 500 mg of a proprietary blend of whole fruit cranberry powder and 120 mg of vitamin C to promote urinary tract health and boost your immune system.
Each serving equals one full glass of cranberry juice, with zero added sugars or artificial sweeteners. The soft gels do contain some ingredients like soybean oil , rice bran oil, beeswax, and soy lecithin that might act inflammatory in your gut, and they’re also not vegan-friendly.
What We Like
- No added sugar or GMOs
- Added vitamin C
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Contains soybean oil, rice bran oil, soy lecithin, beeswax, and added colorants
- Not suitable for vegans
Nature’s Bounty Cranberry 4200mg With Vitamin C, Urinary Health & Immune Support
SPECS
Nature’s Bounty Cranberry supplements are extra potent with 4200mg cranberry extract per serving to support the integrity of your bladder walls and promote urinary tract health. They also contain 40 milligrams of vitamin C and 2.7 milligrams of vitamin E to further support your immune system health and protect you from infections.
The rapid-release soft gels are easy to digest and contain no sugar, gluten, or dairy. We also want to note that these gels do contain soybean oil, soy lecithin, and beeswax which might create some digestive issues.
What We Like
- Very potent
- Added vitamin C and vitamin E
- Rapid-release soft gels
- Affordable
- No added sugars, gluten, or artificial ingredients
What We Don’t Like
- Contains soybean oil, soy lecithin, and beeswax
- Not suitable for vegans
Zazzee USDA Organic Cranberry Extract
SPECS
- Dosage: 1 capsule
- Type: Capsule
- Certifications: USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Lab-tested, GMP, Vegan
One of the best cranberry supplements on the market comes from Zazzee. This USDA-certified organic supplement contains 500 mg of organic cranberry extract per serving and it’s made without added sugars, gluten, GMOs, or any artificial ingredient.
Equating to 12,500 milligrams of fresh cranberries, this powerful supplement helps with UTI relief , provides your body with a plethora of antioxidants, and helps you detox in a more efficient way. The capsule is also 100% vegan so it’s suitable for those following a plant-based diet and it contains only natural and organic stabilizers.
What We Like
- USDA Organic
- Lab tested
- Vegan
- Affordable
- Clean ingredients
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t contain vitamin C
Microingredients Sustainably US-Grown, Organic Cranberry Juice Powder
SPECS
- Dosage: 1 scoop (approximately 5g)
- Type: Powder
- Certifications: USDA Organic, Filler free, GMO-free
If you’re looking for a cranberry supplement that’s not in pill form, this product from Microingredients is raw, organic, and free from any additional sugars, gluten, dairy, or other ingredients. Safe for baking or mixing into your favorite smoothie, one scoop of this potent powder contains 250 g of cold-pressed wild cranberry juice, rich in antioxidants and natural vitamin C.
The powder form is free from any additional ingredients you’d usually find in pills and it’s easy to digest. Additionally, it’s safe for both humans and pets.
What We Like
- Organic, raw cranberry juice powder
- Clean ingredients
- Vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, artificial ingredient-free, non-GMO
What We Don’t Like
- Not for those who don’t enjoy powder form of supplements
Immunia Urinary Health, Cranberry & Elderberry Concentrate
SPECS
Immunia Urinary Health Cranberry & Elderberry Concentrate is a powerful liquid cranberry supplement form that contains 29,375 mg of cranberry and elderberry extracts per serving. Easy to digest and quick to absorb, this supplement is convenient when mixing into any liquid or smoothie of choice. High in polyphenols, this cranberry supplement aims to help improve your overall health and protect you from free radicals.
The formula is clean and contains no added sugars, sweeteners, dairy, gluten, GMO, or artificial ingredients. One thing to note: This supplement does require refrigeration after opening and should be consumed within 30 days of opening.
What We Like
- High level of antioxidants
- Cranberry and elderberry extract
- Sugar-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan
What We Don’t Like
- Liquid form might not be the best taste for everyone
- Has to be kept in a refrigerator which doesn’t make it travel-friendly
Benefits of Cranberry Supplements
Cranberry supplements may help prevent and treat urinary tract infections, help strengthen your urinary tract walls, and support your overall immune system so you’re at a lower risk of infection. Cranberry naturally contains h igh levels of antioxidants that help fight free radicals and their oxidative damage. It also contains vitamin C which is known for its immune-boosting properties.
Some brands add vitamin C and other micronutrients to further enrich their products and help protect your overall health and well-being.
What to Look for in Cranberry Supplements
When it comes to choosing the best cranberry supplements, these are some important factors to keep in mind:
- Quality of ingredients: Always choose brands with the highest-quality ingredients to ensure a high level of micronutrients.
- Clean formula: The best cranberry supplements contain no unnecessary and artificial ingredients that might contribute to overall inflammation in your body and increase your risk of infections. They also contain no gluten, sugars, dairy, or GMOs.
- Added ingredients: Some brands add vitamin C, E, or other natural ingredients that enrich their formula and help improve more aspects of your health and well-being.
- Organic certificate: Even though a brand doesn’t have to carry an organic label to ensure quality, if there is one, it does help you choose better because you know their formula is high-quality and clean
- Third-party tested: If a brand provides third-party testing results, it ensures potency, purity, high quality, and transparency into their sourcing as well as production and handling.
- Testimonials: Reviews and testimonials from real customers always trump whatever the brand promotes on its website.
FAQs About Cranberry Supplements
Is it better to drink cranberry juice or take cranberry pills?
Cranberry juice is generally easier to digest and quicker to absorb, but it might not taste the best. In the end, the choice will be yours.
Are cranberry pills effective?
Cranberry pills seem to be effective, especially if added to an already healthy diet. They are not magic pills and they can’t work if taken alone while still implementing unhealthy lifestyle routines that act harmful to your immune system and urinary tract health.
How much cranberry should I take a day?
Every brand has a recommended dosage on their packaging, so try not to exceed those values for the best results. Additionally, consult with your healthcare provider for more information and a better dose for you and your particular health needs.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About the Author
Karla Tafra
Karla Tafra is a published author, speaker, certified nutritionist, and yoga teacher. She’s been writing about nutrition, health, fitness, and overall wellness topics for over 12 years. Her work has been featured on popular sites like Healthline, Psychology.com, Well and Good, Women’s Health, Mindbodygreen, Medium, Yoga Journal, Lifesavvy, and Bodybuilding.com.
Karla Tafra is a published author, speaker, certified nutritionist, and yoga teacher. She’s been writing about nutrition, health, fitness, and overall wellness topics for over 12 years. Her work has been featured on popular sites like Healthline, Psychology.com, Well and Good, Women’s Health, Mindbodygreen, Medium, Yoga Journal, Lifesavvy, and Bodybuilding.com.
Should You Take Cranberry Pills for UTI?
Medically reviewed by Tia Jackson-Bey, MD
Cranberry juice is touted for its believed benefits for urinary tract infections. So, can cranberry pills help? Here’s what you need to know.
UTIs and cranberries
The thought of going through another bout of burning when you pee, peeing a lot, and the exceptionally terrible-smelling urine is jarring. But that’s the reality some women experience with urinary tract infections. If UTIs are a regular occurrence for you, you might benefit from this seasonal fruit: cranberries. You may even drink cranberry juice to help with a UTI.
Here’s what you need to know about UTIs, cranberries—specifically, cranberry pills for UTI—and the potential benefits and risks.
What is a UTI?
Your urinary tract is made up of several parts, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. Symptoms of a UTI include burning when you urinate, the urgency to urinate, and foul-smelling, cloudy urine. You may also notice fever, lower abdominal pressure, or back pain. While both men and women can develop a UTI, four times as many women are diagnosed with these infections.
How does cranberry help a UTI?
Chemical compounds in cranberries called proanthocyanins and a sugar called D-mannose are likely the key ingredients that may help with UTIs. E. coli bacteria is one of the most common UTI causes.
Research suggests that these compounds keep E. coli cells from adhering to the lining of the urinary tract, so bacteria can’t grow, suggests a 2018 study in BMC Urology.
Some people take cranberry supplements, available as tablets, capsules, or powder, to prevent or try to treat a UTI.
“Cranberry supplements make certain types of E. coli bacteria less able to stick to the lining of the urinary tract, which allows you to clear the bacteria more readily,” says Michael Lutz, MD, a urologist with Beaumont Health in West Bloomfield, Michigan. According to a 2018 review in Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, cranberry supplements may help prevent UTIs in women and may act as an anti-inflammatory to decrease the severity of symptoms if they’re prone to UTIs. (Don’t miss the other cranberry health benefits.)
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Do cranberry pills prevent a UTI?
If you are someone who has recurrent UTIs (defined as two or more infections within six months), then taking cranberry products might cut your risk of developing another infection by one-third, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Still, more high-quality research needs to be done to understand who might benefit from taking cranberry, the agency says. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows cranberry supplement manufacturers to claim that cranberry can have this benefit in women who have a history of recurrent UTIs.
Do cranberry pills treat a UTI?
While the NCCIH notes that cranberry has not been shown to be an effective UTI home remedy, it may help in certain instances, says Dr. Lutz.
For women who get these recurrent UTIs, he says that “super-hydrating” and taking cranberry pills may increase the chance of flushing out the infection rather than having to take another round of antibiotics. That means drinking more than two liters of water, he says. However, pay attention to your symptoms. If your infection progresses and you experience fever, chills, or back pain, an antibiotic will be necessary. Call your doctor.
The benefits and risks of cranberry pills
You might prefer to take a cranberry supplement, especially if you’re looking to avoid the carbohydrates in the juice, says Dr. Lutz. An 8-ounce glass of cranberry juice has 30 grams of carbohydrates. One 2015 study in Phytotherapy Research looked at 182 women who had recurrent UTIs. Just 11 percent of women who took 500 mg of cranberry for six months developed UTIs compared to 26 percent in the placebo group.
That said, some past research suggests that both cranberry juice and cranberry supplements are similarly effective in managing recurring UTIs, according to a 2018 review in Nature Reviews Urology.
“Because studies use a variety of doses of both juice and supplements or extracts, it’s hard to know exactly which is right for you,” says Seattle-based functional nutrition expert, Ginger Hultin, RD, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and owner of Champagne Nutrition.
“Many health care providers and registered dietitians take a ‘food first’ approach, and so taking a less concentrated source to start, such as drinking cranberry juice, may be a good place to start,” she says. If you opt for cranberry juice over supplements, choose a brand that is 100 percent cranberry juice, not “cranberry cocktail,” she says. (Learn more about cranberry benefits.)
Choosing the right supplement
Supplements, even if they come from a fruit, run the risk of interacting with existing medications and supplements you’re taking, which is another reason to talk to your doctor before starting, says Hultin. High intakes of cranberry might also cause digestive upset, she adds.
It’s easy to find a cranberry supplement either at your local pharmacy, the supplement aisle at your grocery store, or online.
However, “the quality really matters when you take supplements, and you should buy from a trustworthy brand,” says Robin Foroutan, RDN, who specializes in integrative and functional nutrition in New York City and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She advises checking with a health care provider who is knowledgeable about supplements. A good place to start is your primary care provider.
Next, here are the vitamins and supplements doctors take every day.
