D Mannose For Urinary Tract Health

Prevention And Natural Treatment For Utis

Dr. Mercola’s Guide to Urinary Tract Health for Women: D-Mannose and Cranberry Extract

Other things you can do as home remedies for UTIs and can be used in conjunction with D-mannose treatment include:

Drinking plenty of water, at least 64 ounces in a day

Drink cranberry juice . It contains two different substances, including D-mannose, that help fight UTIs.

Take vitamin C to help acidify the urine, making it inhospitable for bacteria.

Practice good hygiene, such as front to back wiping and cleansing after intercourse.

Urinate immediately after intercourse.

Dont resist the urge to urinate as it can lead to bacterial build-up.

UTIs can be quite uncomfortable during active infection, so of course, you are motivated to try a fast-acting treatment or prevention altogether. D-mannose is a great prevention and natural treatment for UTIs without the harsh side effects of antibiotic treatments.

Treatment From A Gp For Utis That Keep Coming Back

If your UTI comes back after treatment, you may have a urine test and be prescribed different antibiotics.

Your doctor or nurse will also offer advice on how to prevent UTIs.

If you keep getting UTIs and regularly need treatment, a GP may give you a repeat prescription for antibiotics.

If you have been through the menopause, you may be offered a vaginal cream containing oestrogen.

Uti Symptoms And Causes

UTIs are rarely subtle. When you have one, you typically suspect it. The most common UTI symptoms are:

An intense, persistent, and frequent urge to urinate
A burning sensation or pain during urination
Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
Cloud-colored urine
Fever

Whats causing all of this? UTIs happen when bacteria enters the urethra and multiplies in one or more parts of the urinary tract. About 80 to 90 percent of UTIs are caused by escherichia coli . However, UTIs can also be caused by other bacteria or fungi.

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What Does The Research Tell Us

Research into D-mannose for preventing and treating UTIs in people is still very new. A 2013 review article noted that there are virtually no clinical studies in which D-mannose has been evaluated for recurrent UTI prevention.1

A 2014 randomised controlled trial found that D-mannose may be effective in preventing people from getting further UTIs. However the study was flawed, such as being unblinded , and having no placebo group, which may have affected the results. The researchers noted the need for further studies to validate their results.2

Another 2016 pilot study had promising results to indicate that D-mannose may be effective for both treatment and prevention of UTIs. However, the study was very poor quality, having no comparison group and having a very small sample size. Therefore, no conclusions should be made from this study.3

Strengths And Limitations Of This Study

Based on current literature, this will be the first large publicly funded randomised controlled trial of D-mannose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections.
This study is the first to use a placebo control in evaluating the benefit of D-mannose.
Obtaining the primary outcome by medical notes review will ensure data completeness.
The trial may not be powered to detect a secondary outcome of symptom burden which is also of value to patient decision making.
Although participants report weekly on their study product usage there are no objective measures available to confirm accuracy of reporting.

Recommended Reading: Tips For Urinary Tract Infection

The Most Recent Research

Two systematic reviews published in 2020 each examined clinical trials on the use of D-mannose to help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections.

The first meta-analysis concluded that D-mannose appears to be about as effective as antibiotics at reducing recurrent UTI and also has minimal side effects.
The second review also concluded that the supplement seems to decrease the likelihood of recurrent UTI and improve quality of life by reducing symptoms.

This is all promising support, but in the medical community, eight studies is not enough to make a definitive judgment on whether D-mannose can prevent UTI. More research is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of D-mannose.

Cranberry Juice Vs Cranberry Pills For Utis

As with any other fluid, cranberry juice can help to hydrate you and potentially flush out bacteria in urine, but modern cranberry juices lack the concentration of compounds in pure cranberries that prevent the adhesion of bacteria to your urethra. Youre better suited with cranberry extracts in either liquid or capsule form.

Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infection

If youve ever had the pleasure of this experience, then you know the pain in the bladder, pelvic region, lower abdomen or back, associated with a urinary tract infection can be quite intense. It is typically accompanied by an increase in frequency and urgency of urination, incomplete emptying of the bladder, and burning with urination. Urine may be cloudy, or in some cases, dark or bloody, and have a potent or offensive odor.

Some other less reported symptoms may include fatigue, aching in the joints and muscles, pain in the inner thighs, anxiety, and shaking. If fever and chills appear, this is typically a sign that the infection is in the kidneys. In rare cases, a kidney infection can lead to damage to the kidneys or the infection can get into the bloodstream, which creates a more serious condition. Most practitioners consider the presence of back pain as a red flag that infection may be in the kidneys, particularly if the pain is higher up.

The Top 6 Supplements For Urinary Tract Health

Cranberry with D-Mannose (Urinary Tract Health)

Bladder health is easy to take for granted. That is, until you get a tell-tale pain or discomfort in the pelvis. This kind of pain may mean that you have a urinary tract infection, or UTI. Luckily, UTIs can be treated with antibiotics.

However, especially if you suffer from recurrent UTI, it can be painful, frustrating and disheartening to get infections on a regular basis.

Although antibiotics are the only way to get rid of a UTI once it has started, several different supplements can help to prevent UTIs from happening in the first place. For this reason, we have scoured the internet to find the top 6 best supplements for urinary health.

Also Check: How Can You Get A Urinary Tract Infection

How To Take D

D-mannose is best taken on an empty stomach. Take 1 or 2 capsules daily, to help prevent urinary tract infections. D-mannose is safe for long term use.

If you have the symptoms of a urinary tract infection for more than 2 days please see your doctor. Mild cases can often be overcome with the above suggestions, but sometimes antibiotics are necessary.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

Uti Treatment Without Antibiotics

UTIs can be at best uncomfortable but can become dangerous if left untreated. Since they are so common, doctors are generally quick to treat them with antibiotics, which unfortunately can cause side effects such as diarrhea, yeast infections, and nausea, not to mention killing off many beneficial bacteria in the process. If you have a UTI, these side effects may leave you looking for an alternative treatment to try first, instead of automatically going the antibiotic route. As always, it is best to talk to your doctor before trying any treatments since untreated UTIs can be quite serious and lead to permanent kidney damage.

D-mannose has proven effective for recurrent UTIs in several studies. A 2013 study published in the World Journal of Urology compared the use of antibiotics and D-mannose in 308 women with a history of recurrent UTI. The participants of the study were divided into three groups, the first received 2g of D-mannose for 6 months, the second a common antibiotic used to treat UTIs, and the third did not receive any treatment. In the group that received the D-mannose only 14% continued to have recurrent UTIs, whereas 20% continued in the antibiotic group, and 62% in the placebo group. Those in the D-mannose group also reported significantly fewer side effects than those on antibiotics. The researchers determined that based on these results the D-mannose was equally as effective as the antibiotics.

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How To Make Sure You Choose The Right D Mannose For Uti

If you are an early or new user, it might be difficult for you to find the proper d mannose for uti. You might be unaware of certain facets of the d mannose for uti that you might have been thinking about. But we are here to help you out with that! The recommendations below might be helpful in your chase:

When To See A Doctor

If you delay treating a urinary tract infection, you risk having the infection spread. If that happens, it can lead to a kidney infection or even long-term kidney damage or sepsis, a sometimes life-threatening reaction to infection.

The lesson: Call your doctor if you have even the slightest notion that you have a UTI. Most are easily treated with antibiotics, and an accurate diagnosis will also rule out other possible health issues, such as a sexually transmitted disease. Whatever your health care provider finds, they can then recommend the best plan of action to treat that problem. As they say, better safe than sorry.

What Is A Urinary Tract Infection

It doesn’t matter how common UTIs are , having an urgent need to pee, only to have a little come out, or feeling a stinging sensation when relieving yourself, will always feel more than a little uncomfortable.

A UTI is an infection in the urinary system which is usually caused by bacteria. Other causes may be fungal or viral.

There are several types of UTIs, where the infection occurs typically determines what kind of infection it is: urethritis affects the urethra, cystitis is an infection of the bladder, and pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidneys.

In addition to painful urination and an urge to pee with little results, other not so great symptoms of a UTIinclude milky, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, as well as pain in the back or lower stomach.

For years, cranberry juice has been anecdotally recommended and consumed by many as a way to help with the prevention and treatment of UTIs. Likewise, antibiotics have been considered the go-to medication for managing symptoms.

However, while cranberry juice can quench your thirst on a hot, sunny day, it may not be as effective in preventing or treating cases of urinary tract infections. There are conflicting reports on its benefits in managing UTIs when used alone, even though it contains high amounts of D-mannose.

Likewise, despite antibiotics being a proven treatment for UTIs, your body may develop a resistance to specific antibiotics when antibiotic-resistant strains emerge.

Prevent And Treat Utis

D-mannose is a great antibiotic alternative for early stages of a UTI and for UTI prevention. Reduced use of antibiotics lessens the possibility of resistant strains in future use when it may be extremely important. Using antibiotics against bladder infections frequently could also lead to more resistant E.coli, thrush, and long term antibiotic-related complications.

If the urinary tract infection has made its way into the kidneys, antibiotics are the go-to treatment. For serve bladder infections, again antibiotics would be the first call of treatment.

Although a course of antibiotics is often prescribed for the treatment of UTIs as a way of killing the unwanted bacteria in the urinary tract, it should only be used as a last resort, as these antibiotics will also kill the friendly bacteria in the gut, causing digestive issues and yeast infections.

Using a treatment such as D-mannose, which can be used just as effectively as antibiotics, without any of the side effects, is a long-term solution which wont comprise other areas of your health.

Are There Side Effects Of D

Side effects when taking oral D-mannose appear to be rare. The most common ones reported are diarrhea or loose stools. But only a small percentage of people seem to experience this side effect.

Note that if you have diabetes, its even more important to talk to your doctor before taking D-mannose. The thinking is that, since D-mannose is a type of sugar, it may impact blood sugar levels. Give your doctor a heads up so that you can both monitor your blood sugar levels if you decide to take D-mannose.

What Do We Know About D

How D-MANNOSE Offers Effective Support for Urinary Health

Heres the short answer: We dont know enough about D-mannose for UTI. As mentioned above, there is a clear lack of studies into whether D-mannose for UTI is beneficial.

Studies that do exist have not tested appropriate dosage, and limited studies exist for the effectiveness of D-mannose for females who experience recurrent UTIs.

Most look at D-mannose against a microorganism in vitro, that is, on the lab bench, and not in females with symptoms, so we dont have a lot of information about D-mannose out in the real world .

The largest and most heavily referenced study in humans we have found involved 308 women.

In this study, the prophylactic use of D-mannose significantly reduced the risk of recurrent UTI, and was shown to be as effective as nitrofurantoin, an antibiotic.

Why Do People Take D

D-mannose is used to treat a rare disease called carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome type 1b.

This disease is passed down through families. It makes you lose protein through the intestines. Some reports say D-mannose slows down this protein loss and makes your liver work better. It may also reduce bleeding disorders and low blood sugar in people with this disease.

Preliminary clinical trials in Europe show that D-mannose may also treat or prevent urinary tract infections . Research suggests the supplement stops certain bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls. Scientists think that the bacteria stick to the sugar instead. This helps the bacteria leave the body through your urine. Fewer bacteria in the bladder lowers your risk of a urinary tract infection.

Some studies suggest D-mannose may play a useful role as a “prebiotic.” Prebiotics are substances that may help your body by stimulating the growth of “good” bacteria in your digestive system.

In some lab studies and studies in mice, D-mannose components were shown to increase the growth of “good” bacteria. This suggests D-mannose may have some use for people with dysbiosis, an imbalance in good and bad bacteria.

D-mannose supplements are taken by mouth.

Side Effects Of Taking D

Most people who take D-mannose dont experience side effects, but some might have loose stools or diarrhea.

If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor before taking D-mannose. It makes sense to be cautious since D-mannose is a form of sugar. Your doctor might want to monitor your blood sugar levels more closely if you take D-mannose.

If you have an active UTI, dont delay in talking with your doctor. Although D-mannose might help treat infections for some people, the evidence isnt very strong at this point.

Delaying treatment with an antibiotic that has been proven to be effective for treating an active UTI can result in the infection spreading into the kidneys and blood.

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Other Tips To Support Urinary Tract Health

Because women tend to be affected more than men, there are certain steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing an infection.

Drink plenty of filtered water at regular intervals through the day.
Do not resist the urge to urinate.
Take plenty of hot baths and showers.
Wipe carefully after urination from the front to the back.
Use a bidet instead of toilet paper.
Cleanse your genitals prior to intercourse.
Avoid applying chemical hygiene products that could irritate the genitals.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Using D

D-mannose is generally well tolerated by children and adults. However, there have been no studies done to confirm whether D-mannose is safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Manufacturers of D-mannose state that possible side effects include bloating and loose stools.

In addition to the lack of general knowledge about D-mannose on its own, how D-mannose may interact with other medications and supplements is not well studied. Its always best to talk to your doctor if you are concerned.

The Top 6 Supplements For Uti Prevention

If you have ever had a UTI, you probably want to make sure you never have another one. We have researched which urinary health products have the best science to support their use.

Our selections are the top 6 urinary tract health products, with a link to find them on Amazon.

Why we love it: This product contains many of the best-researched supplements to help prevent UTI. D-mannose, cranberry, hibiscus and dandelion are all packed together in a vegan-friendly cellulose capsule.

The product is free of gluten, soy, wheat, dairy and additives. It also contains no genetically modified organisms and is, therefore, non-GMO.

The product is made in the USA and is cGMP certified, meaning that it complies with the FDAs Good Manufacturing Processes. A single bottle contains 120 capsules. As the serving size is 2 capsules a day, the item will last 60 days. Each serving contains 1000mg of D-mannose, 150mg of cranberry juice powder from the fruit, 150mg of hibiscus flower, and 100mg of dandelion root extract. Since dandelion is related to ragweed, you may want to avoid the product if you have a ragweed allergy. Further, because hibiscus is in the mallow family with marshmallow and hollyhock, it may cause a reaction if you are allergic to those plants.

Amazon users like this product, which is a strong seller among urinary health products. Many reviewers have noted that it seems to prevent or reduce their UTIs.

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