Cranberry Products Research Articles

A Review of Cranberry Use for Preventing Urinary Tract Infections in Older Adults.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one the of the most common types of infections in adults older than 65 years of age. Preventing UTIs with prophylactic antibiotics increases the risk of side effects and microbial resistance, and is costly. Cranberry fruit and juices contain the compound proanthrocyanidins (PACs), specifically proanthrocyanidin-A, which exerts antiadhesion characteristics against bacteria. Cranberry products therefore have been an attractive, nonantibiotic preventative option for UTIs; however, the current literature supporting cranberry use in older adults is controversial. This could be multifactorial owing to the heterogeneity of the older population as well as inconsistencies in the recommended dose of PAC in the current literature. Evidence supports that cranberry may be beneficial in preventing UTIs in specific populations such as catheterassociated UTI and postradiotherapy prostate cancer. The cost of daily capsules versus the cost of preventing a UTI in older adults is an important consideration for initiating therapy.

Massive phenotyping of multiple cranberry populations reveals novel QTLs for fruit anthocyanin content and other important chemical traits.

Because of its known phytochemical activity and benefits for human health, American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon L.) production and commercialization around the world has gained importance in recent years. Flavonoid compounds as well as the balance of sugars and acids are key quality characteristics of fresh and processed cranberry products. In this study, we identified novel QTL that influence total anthocyanin content (TAcy), titratable acidity (TA), proanthocyanidin content (PAC), Brix, and mean fruit weight (MFW) in cranberry fruits. Using repeated measurements over the fruit ripening period, different QTLs were identified at specific time points that coincide with known chemical changes during fruit development and maturation. Some genetic regions appear to be regulating more than one trait. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of digital imaging as a reliable, inexpensive and high-throughput strategy for the quantification of anthocyanin content in cranberry fruits. Using this imaging approach, we identified a set of QTLs across three different breeding populations which collocated with anthocyanin QTL identified using wet-lab approaches. We demonstrate the use of a high-throughput, reliable and highly accessible imaging strategy for predicting anthocyanin content based on cranberry fruit color, which could have a large impact for both industry and cranberry research.

Single-Laboratory Validation for Determination of Total Soluble Proanthocyanidins in Cranberry Using 4-Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde.

American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is native to Eastern North America. Recent studies have suggested that the A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberries are effective in preventing urinary tract infection. To meet the growing interest in the cranberry market, an accurate, reliable, and simple method to determine PAC concentration is needed. In this study, a modified method using 4-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde to quantify total PACs in cranberry products was validated. Cranberry juice extract powder, cranberry capsules containing juice extract, and cranberry juice concentrate were used as the samples in this study. With the modified method, the calibration curves for proanthocyanidin A2 had correlation coefficients (r2) of >0.99. The recoveries of two different concentrations after spiking were 97.1 and 99.1%, and the RSDs for repeatability and reproducibility were <2.7 and <1.6%, respectively.

Conserving carnivorous arthropods: an example from early-season cranberry (Ericaceae) flooding

AbstractBiological control plays an important role in many integrated pest management programmes, but can be disrupted by other control strategies, including chemical and cultural controls. In commercial cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton; Ericaceae) production, a spring flood can replace an insecticide application, providing an opportunity to study the compatibility of the flood (a cultural control) with biological control. We suspect that chemical controls will tend to reduce the number of natural enemies, while the flood, through removal of detritus and detritivores, may cause generalist predators to prey-switch to consume proportionally more pest individuals. We measured the abundance of herbivores (Lepidoptera), detritivores, Arachnida, and parasitoids (Hymenoptera) every week for six weeks in Wisconsin (United States of America) cranberry beds following either an insecticide spray or a cultural control flood. We found that detritivore populations rapidly declined in both flood and spray treatments; conversely, carnivore populations (spiders and parasitoids) were more abundant in the flooded beds than in sprayed beds. Populations of key cranberry pests were similar between flooded and sprayed beds. Our results showed that early-season flooding preserved more natural enemies than an insecticide application. This increase in natural enemy abundance after the flood may allow for greater continuity in herbivore suppression, potentially providing a basis for long-term cranberry pest management.

Updates in Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections: A Focus on Multidrug-Resistant Organisms

Background: Urinary tract infection treatment can be difficult in the geriatric population. These patients often require a more nuanced approach due to recurrent, resistant, and catheter-associated infections. Areas of Uncertainty: Although some attempts have been made to prevent urinary tract infections using cranberry products, probiotics, and nonpharmacologic means, current interest lies largely with the development of new antibiotics to treat increasingly resistant organisms. Therapeutic Advances: Efforts to reduce the development of resistance starts with judicious and appropriate empiric use of antibiotics. Fluoroquinolones are no longer recommended as first-line therapy due to adverse reactions and the development of resistance. Complicated and upper urinary tract infections require broader empiric coverage and measures should be taken to de-escalate treatment as early as possible. Antimicrobial stewardship programs are recommended to aid in these efforts in addition to antibiotic selection in the presence of multidrug-resistant organisms such as those producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase or carbapenemase. Multidrug-resistant organisms are often present in catheter-associated urinary tract infections so broad empiric coverage should be initially started. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections should generally be treated for 7–14 days depending on the rate of clinical improvement, and fungal coverage is often also necessary. Ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, and meropenem/vaborbactam were recently approved in the US for treating multidrug-resistant organisms and several more agents are in development, such as parenteral fosfomycin. Ceftolozane/tazobactam is effective for treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other gram-negative organisms, even those that produce extended spectrum beta-lactamases. Ceftazidime/avibactam is effective solely for gram-negative organisms, including those that produce various carbapenemases, but efficacy for P. aeruginosa is variable. Both combinations are approved for complicated urinary tract infections in addition to complicated intra-abdominal infections. Several medications are currently in the pipeline to treat multidrug-resistant organisms. Meropenem/vaborbactam was approved for complicated urinary tract infections and its coverage includes carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Fosfomycin, currently available orally and first line for uncomplicated urinary tract infections, is being evaluated for intravenous use for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, and gram-negative bacilli that produce both extended spectrum beta-lactamase and carbapenemase. Conclusions: Urinary Tract Infections are a common cause of hospitalization in older adults. Antibiotic selection and antimicrobial stewardship programs are important given the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms.

Quality control of commercial cranberry products: HPTLC-densitometry a new deal

A fast quality control protocol based on reference BL-DMAC assay and High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)-Densitometry was optimized for routine quality control of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) products. The sample preparation appeared as a key step to ensure a relevant comparison of products quality and biological data. Sequential solid/liquid extractions were required to fully extract polyphenols, regardless the extraction solvent chosen. The HPTLC-densitometry herein protocol used epicatechin, PAC-A2 and PAC-B2 as quality markers and densitometric measurements at 200 nm. The PAC-A2/Epicatechin ratio, obtained using HPTLC, appeared as an appropriate indicator of the quality of cranberry ingredient. Only two products, among the tested panel, exhibited a high quality cranberry-based ingredient using this criteria. UPLC-MS analyses coupled to multivariate analyses confirmed HPTLC-densitometry conclusions. This work highlighted the plural PAC composition of commercial products and the lack of standardization for cranberry-based products on the market, explaining the non-reproducibility of clinical trials.

Managing Surface Water Inputs to Reduce Phosphorus Loss from Cranberry Farms.

Cranberry ( Ait.) production in Massachusetts represents one-fourth of the US cranberry supply, but water quality concerns, water use, and wetland protection laws challenge the future viability of the state's cranberry industry. Pond water used for harvest and winter flooding accounts for up to two-thirds of phosphorus (P) losses in drainage waters. Consequently, use of P sorbing salts to treat pond water holds promise in the mitigation of P losses from cranberry farms. Laboratory evaluation of aluminum (Al)-, iron (Fe)-, and calcium (Ca)-based salts was conducted to determine the application rate required for reducing P in shallow (0.4 m) and deep (3.2 m) water ponds used for cranberry production. Limited P removal (<22%) with calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate was consistent with their relatively low solubility in water. Calcium hydroxide reduced total P up to 49%, but increases in pond water pH (>8) could be detrimental to cranberry production. Ferric sulfate and aluminum sulfate applications of 15 mg L (ppm) resulted in near-complete removal of total P, which decreased from 49 ± 3 to <10 μg P L (ppb). However, ferric sulfate application lowered pH below the recommend range for cranberry soils. Field testing of aluminum sulfate demonstrated that at a dose of 15 mg L (∼1.4 Al mg L), total P in pond water was reduced by 78 to 94%. Laboratory and field experiments support the recommendation of aluminum sulfate as a cost-effective remedial strategy for reducing elevated P in surface water used for cranberry production.

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in Women

The purpose of this review is to discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in the setting of antimicrobial stewardship. Although recurrent UTI was traditionally thought to occur by repeated ascension of uropathogenic colonizers, newer evidence suggests that a subset of bacteria becomes internalized within uroepithelial cells forming quiescent intracellular reservoirs. These quiescent reservoirs do not elicit an immune response and persist after treatment of acute infection. In time, epithelial turnover results in release of these bacteria potentially leading to recurrent infection. Given the rise in antimicrobial resistance, the concept of antimicrobial stewardship has been developed to promote appropriate use of antimicrobials, improve patient outcomes, decrease microbial resistance, and reduce the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms. This has sparked interest in non-antimicrobial measures for UTI prevention. Although cranberry products and probiotics may prevent UTI, the data for their efficacy are limited. Current evidence supports vaginal estrogen use for UTI prevention in postmenopausal women. Daily or post-coital low-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis may also be beneficial, particularly for women who develop UTI despite non-antimicrobial measures. Nevertheless, studies demonstrating the efficacy of antimicrobial prophylaxis are > 10 years old when antibiotic resistance was less common. Prevention of recurrent UTI requires identifying and addressing risk factors for infection. Non-antimicrobial strategies should be recommended whenever possible given increasing antimicrobial resistance. However, more studies are needed to define the ideal populations that may benefit from current non-antimicrobial strategies and to identify other potential ways UTI may be prevented.

Drying-induced physico-chemical changes in cranberry products

Sugar-free cranberry juice (XAD) and juice with 15% of maltodextrin were dried by freeze-, vacuum and spray drying methods. Total phenolics (589–6435mg/kg dry matter) including 5 flavonols, 3 phenolic acids, 2 procyanidins and 5 anthocyanins were stronger affected by juice formulation than by drying methods. Spray drying of juice, regardless of its formulation, was competitive to freeze drying in terms of polyphenols’ retention. Increase in temperature up to 100°C during vacuum drying of XAD extracts resulted in degradation of polyphenolics (down to 4%), except chlorogenic acid. Its content increased with rise in temperature and accelerated hydroxymethylfurfural formation. The stronger the impact of drying, the more chlorogenic acid is present in cranberry products. In all powders analysed, formation of furoylmethyl amino acids was noted. Antioxidant capacity of cranberry products was influenced by juice formulation and was linked to content of polyphenols.

Assessing Wild Bee Biodiversity in Cranberry Agroenvironments: Influence of Natural Habitats.

The conservation of bee populations for pollination in agricultural landscapes has attracted a lot of recent research interest, especially for crop industries undergoing expansion to meet increased production demands. In Canada, much growth has been occurring with commercial cranberry production, a field crop which is largely dependent on bee pollination. Wild bee pollinators could be negatively impacted by losses of natural habitat surrounding cranberry fields to accommodate increased production, but growers have little insight on how to manage their lands to maximize the presence of wild bees. Here, we described a 2-yr study where bee diversity and species composition were investigated to better understand the dynamic between natural habitat and cranberry fields. Bees were sampled using pan-traps and hand netting both within cranberry fields and in one of the three adjacent natural habitat types once a week during the crop flowering period. We found that bee community composition among cranberry fields did not differ based on the respective adjacent habitat type, but fields bordered by meadows were marginally less diverse than fields bordered by forest. As one would expect, field and natural habitat communities differed in terms of species composition and species richness. There was no evidence that one type of natural habitat was more favorable for the bees than another. Future agrobiodiversity studies should simultaneously examine bee diversity comprised in both crop fields and adjacent natural environments to better understand the species dynamics essential to the preservation of pollination services.

Cranberry products for urinary tract infections

Cranberry products for urinary tract infections

Automated cycled sprinkler irrigation for spring frost protection of cranberries

Overhead (sprinkler) irrigation is commonly used for spring frost protection of cranberries in southeastern Massachusetts, United States. Historically, conventional forms of irrigation management have been used, generally consisting of running irrigation pumps continuously throughout the night and into the early morning until ambient air temperature reached 1–2°C above the critical temperature of the plant. However, a general paucity of information exists on the horticultural and hydrological effects of on-off “cycling” of irrigation pumps based on pre-programmed temperature setpoints. To fill this gap, three years of monitoring were conducted to quantify the relative effects of cycled and conventional spring frost irrigation on cranberry bud damage, crop yield, and water use. Results showed that cycled irrigation reduced seasonal water use from 33 to 80% compared to conventional frost irrigation, with water savings under cycled frost irrigation ranging from 113 to 198mm (mean±SD: 176±47mm). Despite some variation in type and amount of observed bud damage, values of cranberry yield were similar between the two methods or higher for cycled irrigation. The conventional frost irrigation method always applied more irrigation water, possibly increasing soil saturation and anaerobic conditions that are known to lower crop yield in cranberry. Together, these results point to cycled irrigation as a water management strategy that can enhance cranberry production and reduce agricultural water use in southeastern Massachusetts.

Safety of cranberry extract powder as a novel food ingredient pursuant to Regulation (EC) No258/97.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on ‘cranberry extract powder’ as a novel food (NF) submitted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The NF contains about 55–60% proanthocyanidins (PACs). The Panel considers that the information provided on the composition, the specifications, batch‐to‐batch variability and stability of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns. Cranberry extract powder is produced from cranberry juice concentrate through an ethanolic extraction using an adsorptive resin column to retain the phenolic components. The Panel considers that the production process is sufficiently described and does not raise concerns about the safety of the novel food. The NF is intended to be added to beverages and yogurts to provide 80 mg PACs per serving. The target population is the adult general population. The mean and 95th percentile estimates for the all‐user intakes from all proposed food‐uses are 68 and 192 mg/day, respectively, for female adults, and 74 mg/day and 219 mg/day, respectively, for male adults. Taking into account the composition of the novel food and the intended use levels, the Panel considers that the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. While no animal toxicological studies have been conducted on the NF, a number of human clinical studies have been conducted with cranberry products. Considering the composition, manufacturing process, intake, history of consumption of the source and human data, the Panel considers that the data provided do not give reasons for safety concerns. The Panel concludes that the cranberry extract powder is safe as a food ingredient at the proposed uses and use levels.

Can Cranberries Contribute to Reduce the Incidence of Urinary Tract Infections? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Clinical Trials

We sought to clarify the association between cranberry intake and the prevention of urinary tract infections. This systematic review, which complies with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) statement, was done as a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of clinical trials. The findings clearly showed the potential use of cranberries for the clinical condition of urinary tract infection. Cranberry products significantly reduced the incidence of urinary tract infections as indicated by the weighted risk ratio (0.6750, 95% CI 0.5516-0.7965, p <0.0001). The results of subgroup analysis demonstrated that patients at some risk for urinary tract infections were more susceptible to the effects of cranberry ingestion. The results of the current study could be used by physicians to recommend cranberry ingestion to decrease the incidence of urinary tract infections, particularly in individuals with recurrent urinary tract infections. This would also reduce the administration of antibiotics, which could be beneficial since antibiotics can lead to the worldwide emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms.

The role of nonantibiotic treatment of community-acquired urinary tract infections.

To summarize evidence on the efficacy of nonantibiotic treatments in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). The need for antibiotic-free regimens seems to be imperative given the worldwide rates of resistance of uropathogens to available antibiotics. In the recently published literature, cranberry products and probiotics are the focus of research. They both seem to be effective in preventing recurrent UTIs compared with placebo, but their benefit becomes less clear when they are compared with antibiotics. A number of nonantibiotic-containing alternatives are available for the prevention of recurrent UTIs. For the majority of these alternatives, contradictory results have been published. These can be, at least partially, explained by variation in doses administered and duration of treatment. Selection of patients more likely to benefit from these interventions seems to be a realistic approach from a clinical-practice perspective, as well a worthwhile focus for future research.

Precision Agriculture and Soil and Water Management in Cranberry Production — Special Issue

Precision Agriculture and Soil and Water Management in Cranberry Production — Special Issue

Potential immunomodulatory effects of non-dialyzable materials of cranberry extract in poultry production

Studies on effects of cranberry products in animals, especially in chickens, are very scarce or even lacking. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effect of high molecular weight non-dialyzable materials (NDMs) of cranberry extract. The in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated. The ability of NDMs (0, 1, 2, or 4 mg/mL) to enhance phagocytic activities was also evaluated using chicken heterophils (CHEs) against Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, a broiler model was used to determine the effect of NDMs on the humoral immune response. Seven-d-old chicks were vaccinated with the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine S-706, and treated orally with 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg/mL/bird NDMs for five consecutive days. Serum immunoglobulin level (Ig), and antibody concentration against IBDV, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and avian reovirus (ARV) were measured weekly by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). NDMs showed >five-fold higher antioxidant activity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity = 222.7 mg trolox/g) than the commercial raw cranberry juice from which it derived (oxygen radical absorbance capacity = 39.6 mg trolox/g). Likewise, NDMs demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities comparable to Naproxen but better than those of Ibuprofen. The susceptibility of S. aureus to phagocytosis by CHEs increased significantly (P < 0.05) at 4 mg/mL NDMs in the medium. While no intracellular bacteria were counted in CHEs after phagocytosis in the presence of 2 and 4 mg/mL NDMs, 1 mg/mL NDMs demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) intracellular killing activity in CHEs against S. aureus compared to the untreated CHEs. Results from the in vivo studies indicated that birds receiving 2 and 4 mg/mL/bird NDMs had a higher serum IgM level (P < 0.05), and their antibody titers against IBDV tended to increase with NDMs administration (P = 0.06) on d 35. These results suggest that NDMs enhances bacterial susceptibility to immuno-defense mechanisms, and may be useful as immunomodulators against infections.

Irrigation and drainage management strategies to enhance cranberry production and optimize water use in North America

Recent research funding, as well as technological and management changes, has led to important scientific discoveries on irrigation and drainage of cranberry that could significantly impact on plan...

Positioning Temperature Sensors for Frost Protection in Northern Cranberry Production

Frost can cause serious economic losses in cranberry fields, particularly in northern regions. When the air temperature reaches a low critical threshold, sprinklers are operated to protect vines, to insure crop production and profitability. To avoid frost injury, proper positioning of temperature sensors is critical. A field experiment was designed and conducted to determine the optimal installation height of sensors above soil surface. Temperature data was used to investigate the spatial temperature gradient in the section of a cranberry field. A computer simulation of the temperature profile was performed to simulate the effect of wind velocity on the prediction of air temperature. For optimal use, sensors should be installed at the height of the canopy and several meters away from a dike. On nights with low wind velocities, the canopy air temperature was 2.7°C below that of 500 cm above the ground. The sensors should be put at least five m away from a dike to avoid the transfer of heat from the dike to the sensor. Also, multiple sensors should be installed because of the large variations in air temperature that were measured across the experiment. The simulated temperature indicated that wind velocity strongly influenced the temperature estimation; the effect of the wind on temperatures gradients was greater when the wind velocity was low (<2.3 m/s).

Solid/liquid extraction as key step for quality assessment of commercial cranberry products using HPTLC-densitometry

Solid/liquid extraction as key step for quality assessment of commercial cranberry products using HPTLC-densitometry