Efficacy of a standardized cranberry supplement on overactive bladder symptoms and urobiome alterations in young women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.
- 2Clinical Training Center, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract
Introduction
Urobiome dysbiosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of overactive bladder (OAB). In this study, the efficacy of a cranberry supplement for OAB symptoms was investigated, and concurrent urobiome alterations were evaluated in young women.Methods
This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 26 women (median age, 23 years) with OAB (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score [OABSS] ≥ 3), who received either a cranberry supplement (36 mg proanthocyanidins per day) or placebo for 4 weeks. Clinical efficacy was assessed using the OABSS reduction rate, and urobiome composition was evaluated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results
Twenty-five participants were included in the analysis. At 4 weeks, the OABSS reduction rate was greater in the cranberry group than in the placebo group (median, 66.7% vs. 40.0%; p = 0.039). At baseline, the urobiome was dominated by Lactobacillus (median relative abundance, 64.2%). After cranberry supplementation, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus decreased within the cranberry group (median change, -4.39%; p = 0.027; q = 0.096). No compositional changes were observed in the placebo group.Conclusions
Cranberry supplementation was associated with greater improvement in OAB symptoms than was observed with placebo in young women, while a decrease in Lactobacillus relative abundance was observed within the cranberry group. Given the small sample size of this exploratory pilot trial and the limited species-level resolution of 16S rRNA sequencing, these concurrent findings should be regarded as hypothesis-generating and warrant further investigation.Clinical trial registration
https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/, identifier UMIN000057544.
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BibTeX
@article{ito2026efficacy,
title = {{Efficacy of a standardized cranberry supplement on overactive bladder symptoms and urobiome alterations in young women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.}},
author = {Ayaka Ito and Shohei Akagawa and Yuko Akagawa and Shoji Tsuji and Shogo Kato and Sohsaku Yamanouchi and Kazunari Kaneko},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2026.1952206},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908981},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Efficacy of a standardized cranberry supplement on overactive bladder symptoms and urobiome alterations in young women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.
AU - Ayaka Ito
AU - Shohei Akagawa
AU - Yuko Akagawa
AU - Shoji Tsuji
AU - Shogo Kato
AU - Sohsaku Yamanouchi
AU - Kazunari Kaneko
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fcimb.2026.1952206
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908981
AB - Introduction Urobiome dysbiosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of overactive bladder (OAB). In this study, the efficacy of a cranberry supplement for OAB symptoms was investigated, and concurrent urobiome alterations were evaluated in young women.Methods This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 26 women (median age, 23 years) with OAB (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score [OABSS] ≥ 3), who received either a cranberry supplement (36 mg proanthocyanidins per day) or placebo for 4 weeks. Clinical efficacy was assessed using the OABSS reduction rate, and urobiome composition was evaluated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results Twenty-five participants were included in the analysis. At 4 weeks, the OABSS reduction rate was greater in the cranberry group than in the placebo group (median, 66.7% vs. 40.0%; p = 0.039). At baseline, the urobiome was dominated by Lactobacillus (median relative abundance, 64.2%). After cranberry supplementation, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus decreased within the cranberry group (median change, -4.39%; p = 0.027; q = 0.096). No compositional changes were observed in the placebo group.Conclusions Cranberry supplementation was associated with greater improvement in OAB symptoms than was observed with placebo in young women, while a decrease in Lactobacillus relative abundance was observed within the cranberry group. Given the small sample size of this exploratory pilot trial and the limited species-level resolution of 16S rRNA sequencing, these concurrent findings should be regarded as hypothesis-generating and warrant further investigation.Clinical trial registration https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/, identifier UMIN000057544.
SN - 2235-2988
ER -