Effects of a supplement associating Lactobacillus strains and proanthocyanidin-rich plant extracts against recurrent uncomplicated, urinary tract infections: A prospective, controlled study

Abstract

Purpose: Recurrent cystitis, particularly common in women, substantially diminishes patient quality of life and represents a major clinical practice and public health burden. Increasing development of resistance to antibiotics has encouraged the search for alternative treatments. The benefits of a food supplement associating two Lactobacillu strains with proanthocyanidin A-rich cranberry and cinnamon extracts were evaluated in 80 women with a history of cystitis recurrence. Materials and Methods: Post-inclusion recurrence frequency was compared between women taking the investigated supplement daily for 6 months and non-supplemented women, based on patient-completed Acute Cystitis Symptom Score (ACSS) questionnaires. Results: Two-thirds (64.9%) of supplemented women experienced no further episodes of cystitis during the first 6 months of the study compared to only one-third (31.6%) of non-supplemented women (p=0.004), the difference between the two groups being significant from 3 months onward. ACSS scores revealed significantly fewer and less severe urinary symptoms in supplemented women, as well as a significantly reduced impact of these symptoms on quality of life (p<0.0001). Conclusions: The results shown by extensive data on women suffering from recurrent cystitis, collected over 8 months, indicate that taking the tested supplement daily for 6 months can provide significant benefits in terms of recurrence frequency, symptoms, and quality of life. The study is registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov site under the identifier NCT04987164.