Ex vivo anti‐adhesion activity of a proanthocyanidin standardized cranberry powder beverage

Abstract

Cranberry bioactives have been studied for their bacterial antiadhesion effect, which may prevent uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) from entering epithelial cells in the bladder. In this study, we compared the ex vivo urinary anti‐adhesion activity of a lowcalorie cranberry powder beverage (CPB) to a low‐calorie cranberry juice cocktail (LCJC) in healthy adults. The CPB was standardized to be equivalent to LCJC on a proanthocyanidin basis. Fifty‐nine volunteers participated in a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over study. Clean‐catch urine samples collected at baseline and 0–6 h were tested for anti‐adhesion activity utilizing a mannose‐resistant human red blood cell hemagglutination assay specific for P‐fimbriated E. coli. Compared to placebo, 0–6 h post‐consumption urines from the CPB and LCJC groups had significantly higher (p<0.05) antiadhesion activity compared to baseline. Although the CPB beverage demonstrated a greater anti‐adhesion activity post‐consumption compared to LCJC, there were no significant differences between these treatments (p=0.14), indicating a similar effect. Acute cranberry beverage consumption increased urinary anti‐adhesion activity ex vivo. This research was supported by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.