The indirect effect of cranberry juice coctail on Tamm-Horsfall protein in protection against urinary tract infection in an elderly population

Abstract

In vivo assays have demonstrated that cranberry juice cocktail (CJC) ingestion confers an increased anti-bacterial adherence activity to the urine. This study addresses CJC's effect on the anti-adherence properties of Tamm-Horsfall Protein (THP). Four elderly females ingested 4 oz. of CJC daily for 84 days. THP was then extracted from their urine samples. The THP was then used as the reaction medium for an adherence assay of bacteria to healthy donor uroepithelia cells. The patient THP was first challenged with the original infective isolate causing the urinary tract infection (UTI). Then E. coli was used as the control bacteria to challenge the patient THP. Mean bacteria adherent to each cell assayed in the presence of post-CJC THP was compared to the mean bacterial adherence of the pre-CJC THP control. Significantly less bacterial adherence was found after CJC ingestion in 3 of the four patients when the THP was challenged with the original infective isolate. Average reductions in bacterial adherence were: 69%, 22% and 66% less bacteria after CJC ingestion. When patient THP was challenged with E. coli, all four patients showed decreased bacterial adherence after CJC treatment compared to before treatment. Average reductions in bacterial adherence were : 8%, 69%, 20% and 34% less bacteria per uroepithelial cell. Based upon these results, it was concluded that CJC acts upon THP and increases the anti-adherence activity of the THP and thus decreases the likelihood of UTI.