The majority of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by E. coli bacteria, which attach themselves to the residues of D-mannose that are found on the receptors of urinary tract cells. Supplemental D-mannose, a sugar residue, provides an alternate binding site for the bacteria, which can then be flushed out. D-Mannose has earned the enviable reputation of being able to provide relief from UTIs with exceptional speed, often in as little as 24-48 hours.

D-Mannose

It was discovered in the late 1980s that a small amount of D-Mannose is present in the urine normally, apparently acting as a defensive mechanism against pathogenic bacteria. When D-Mannose is taken as a supplement, much more of the carbohydrate passes through the urinary tract, strengthening this natural defense.

A decade after this discovery, Dr. Jonathan V. Wright of the Tahoma Clinic pioneered the use of D-Mannose supplements to fight off UTIs. For some years, he has been reporting the successful results that his patients have experienced in using D-Mannose to rid themselves of infection. Even patients who had remained infected after having been subjected to a wide range of potent, side-effect-inducing antibiotics have successfully rid themselves of chronic or acute infections using D-Mannose. Other nutritionally oriented physicians and health practitioners have since adopted Dr. Wright’s protocols, and the feedback is uniformly excellent from UTI sufferers and their caregivers alike.

Recently, there has been greater interest by the pharmaceutical world in the effectiveness of a D-mannose derivative called α-D-mannoside which has begun to show good clinical therapeutic potential.

Cranberry

A Harvard study has demonstrated that regular use of cranberry juice reduced bacterial growth in the urinary tract. Studies have demonstrated that infections can be reduced by over 50% in elderly women drinking 300 ml of cranberry juice per day. Studies have documented that drinking eight glasses of cranberry juice twice a day can eradicate most UTIs. If consumption is maintained, infection is unlikely to recur.