Ingredient Repository · Ingredient

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Ingredient

Cranberry Extract

A concentrated botanical rich in A-type proanthocyanidins that prevents bacterial adhesion and supports urinary tract health in women.

What it is

Cranberry Extract is produced from the fruit of Vaccinium macrocarpon, a shrub native to North America. Supplement formulations use concentrated extracts (up to 50:1 ratio) standardized to A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), the primary active compounds that block bacterial fimbrial binding. Formulated within Velobiotics products, cranberry extract is combined with microencapsulated probiotic strains that survive gastric acid, providing dual anti-adhesion and microbial defense throughout the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts.

Also known as: Vaccinium macrocarpon, Cranberry Extract 50:1

Key benefits

  • Inhibits uropathogenic E. coli from adhering to urothelial lining cells.
  • Reduces the risk and recurrence frequency of urinary tract infections in women.
  • Provides rich polyphenolic antioxidant defense against urogenital oxidative stress.
  • Supports healthy mucosal surface integrity in both gut and bladder tissues.

Amplified by probiotics

Cranberry A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) exert a powerful anti-adhesion effect in the urinary tract by binding to P-fimbriae of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Simultaneously, gut bacteria catabolize unabsorbed cranberry polyphenols into smaller, bioactive valerolactones and phenolic acids that systemic circulation distributes to urogenital tissues. Microencapsulated probiotic Lactobacilli (such as L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri) colonize the intestinal and vaginal mucosa, producing lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide that maintain a protective acidic pH. This acidic microenvironment, combined with probiotic bacteriocins and PAC-mediated anti-adhesion, synergistically competitively excludes pathogens and maintains urogenital microflora balance.

Typical dose

250–500 mg/day (standardized extract containing 36 mg PACs)

The evidence

Evidence: strong

Cochrane systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials confirm that cranberry products significantly reduce the incidence of recurrent urinary tract infections in adult women. Clinical trials validate that standardized PAC extracts prevent uropathogenic bacterial adherence and support long-term urogenital mucosal health. (Jepson 2012, Cochrane Database Syst Rev) (Fu 2017, J Nutr) (Luís 2017, J Urol)

  1. Jepson RG, et al. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;10(10):CD001321. PubMed ↗
  2. Fu Z, et al. Cranberry Reduces the Risk of Urinary Tract Infection Recurrence in Otherwise Healthy Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Nutr. 2017;147(12):2282-2288. PubMed ↗
  3. Luís Â, et al. Can Cranberries Contribute to Reduce the Incidence of Urinary Tract Infections? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Clinical Trials. J Urol. 2017;198(3):614-621. PubMed ↗

Safety & who should check first

Well tolerated across clinical studies; high doses may cause mild stomach upset. Patients taking warfarin should consult a healthcare practitioner due to potential mild interaction; safe for general adult use.