Abstract
This open pilot registry study aimed to evaluate and compare the prophylactic effects of Pycnogenol® or cranberry extract in subjects with previous, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) or interstitial cystitis (IC). Methods. Inclusion criteria were recurrent UTI or IC. One subject group was supplemented with 150 mg/day Pycnogenol®, another with 400 mg/day cranberry extract, and a group served as a control in a 2-month open follow-up. Results. 64 subjects with recurrent UTI/IC completed the study. The 3 groups of subjects were comparable at baseline. All subjects had significant symptoms (minor pain, stranguria, repeated need for urination, and lower, anterior abdominal pain) at inclusion. In the course of the study, the subjects reported no tolerability problems or side effects. The incidence of UTI symptoms, in comparison with the period before inclusion in the standard management (SM) group, decreased significantly; there was a more pronounced decrease in the rate of recurrent infections in the Pycnogenol® group (p < 0.05). The improvement in patients supplemented with Pycnogenol® was significantly superior to the effects of cranberry. At the end of the study, all subjects in the Pycnogenol® group were infection-free (p < 0.05vs. cranberry). Significantly, more subjects were completely symptom-free after 2 months of management with Pycnogenol® (20/22) than with SM (18/22) and cranberry (16/20). Conclusions. This pilot registry suggests that 60 days of Pycnogenol® supplementation possibly decrease the occurrence of UTIs and IC without side effects and with an efficacy superior to cranberry.
Highlights
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common clinical observations
Table 2shows that the 3 groups of subjects that suffered from mild UTI/Interstitial cystitis (IC) and that completed the study were demographically and clinically comparable
UTIs and ICs are common clinical entities often not arriving at the attention of the practitioner
Summary
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common clinical observations. 50% of women worldwide contract at least one UTI in their life and about 25–30% of women have at least one episode of recurrent urinary infection [1, 2]. UTIs in men are common and often recurrent in subjects with lower urinary tract anomalies or anatomical variations [2]. Patients suffering from partial or temporary urinary tract obstruction after catheterization or surgery and subjects with benign prostatic hypertrophy are often affected by UTI [3, 4]. In elderly patients, UTIs are often overlooked or misdiagnosed due to problems with the interpretation of the urinalysis [5]. R-UTIs can be described as mild/moderate intensity when signs or symptoms last less than 3 days and no hospitalization is needed
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