Cranberry

Vaccinium macrocarpon

Other names: Cranberry

Edible plant

European

Photo credit: Photo by Keith Weller

Safety information

Toxicity: Generally safe; large amounts cause GI upset/diarrhea (especially in young children).

Contraindications: Do not substitute for proven UTI treatment. Food amounts safe in pregnancy; larger supplement amounts inconclusive.

Interactions: Conflicting evidence on interaction with warfarin (case reports of raised INR; monitor).

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Food amounts safe; larger supplement amounts inconclusive.

Evidence level

Clinical

Supported by clinical trials in humans.

Preparations

juice / dried fruit / standardized extract or capsule (proanthocyanidins) · fruit

Part used: fruit

Traditional use: prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections

Proposed mechanism: A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) inhibit adhesion of P-fimbriated E. coli to uroepithelial cells, reducing colonization; PAC content varies widely

Dosage note (descriptive only): prevention trials used varied products (juice, or capsules standardized to ~36 mg PAC/day); descriptive only

Evidence:Clinical

General preparation guide →

Associated conditions

Cystitis / UTI

Edibility

Edible parts: berries, raw (very tart) or cooked (sauce, juice)

Toxic lookalike warning

Cultivated; toxic-lookalike risk low for commercial fruit, but wild foragers should positively ID Vaccinium and avoid unrelated red berries.

Nutritional notes

Functional food; vitamin C, proanthocyanidins, fiber; low calorie (juice often heavily sweetened).

Healing traditions

European

Sources (1)

NCCIH Cranberry fact sheet (Cochrane review on UTI prevention)

All sources →