Home Ingredients Cranbey® (Cranberry Extract)
Kidney/Urinary TractWomen's Health

Cranbey® (Cranberry Extract)

Vaccinium macrocarpon
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
2 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Cranbey® is a cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) concentrate providing proanthocyanidins, the compounds usually credited with cranberry's urinary-tract benefits. It is used for urinary and bladder health, most often by women. No study of this branded concentrate is cited here, so the evidence on this page is borrowed from cranberry in general, and mostly from women who already have recurrent urinary tract infections. Pooled cranberry trials showed fewer repeat infections in women who get them often, while the PAC content of this concentrate is not stated. It is not a treatment for an active infection; that needs a doctor.

Studied Dose No dose has been tested for this product. Cranberry trials used juices, tablets and capsules at many doses, and pooled results could not show a difference between low and high PAC doses.
Active Compound Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) concentrate providing proanthocyanidins, or PACs.

Benefits

Urinary tract health

Cranberry products have been tested in dozens of trials. Pooled results showed fewer repeat urinary infections in women who get them often, in children and after some medical procedures, but showed little effect in older adults in care homes or in pregnancy. Questions remain about dose and duration, and no trial has tested this product.

Supported by Trial 1

Anti-adhesion action

Cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) inhibit the attachment of P-fimbriated E. coli to cells lining the bladder in lab studies. This is the leading proposed mechanism rather than a proven one, and nothing cited on this page tested whether this product does it in people.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Proanthocyanidins (PACs)

Cranberry PACs inhibit the adherence of P-fimbriated E. coli to the cells lining the bladder in lab studies, so fewer bacteria may attach. PAC content varies between cranberry products and is not stated for this product, and pooled trials could not show a difference between low and high PAC doses.

Clinical trials

1
Cranberry products for urinary tract health: Cochrane review (not a study of this product)
PubMed

Cochrane systematic review of randomized and quasi-randomized trials of cranberry juice, tablets or capsules versus placebo, no treatment or other options, searched to March 2023. (Williams et al. 2023, Cochrane Database Syst Rev)

50 trials with 8,857 participants, including women with recurrent infections, children, older adults in care, pregnant women and people after medical procedures.

Cranberry products reduced symptomatic, culture-verified infections overall (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.84) and in women with recurrent infections (8 trials, 1,555 people, RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.99). There was little or no benefit in elderly institutionalized people or pregnant women. Effects of different PAC doses were unclear. Gastrointestinal side effects probably did not differ from placebo.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

In pooled cranberry trials, gastrointestinal side effects were probably no more common than with placebo or no treatment; no tolerability data for this branded concentrate are cited here.
Very large amounts of cranberry can cause stomach upset and diarrhea, particularly in young children.

Important Drug interactions

Warfarin: evidence on an interaction with cranberry is conflicting. Tell your prescriber and monitor INR if you combine them.
Not a substitute for antibiotics during an active infection.
Tell your doctor about a history of kidney stones.

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Frequently asked questions about Cranbey® (Cranberry Extract)

What is Cranbey?

Cranbey® is a cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) concentrate providing proanthocyanidins, the compounds usually credited with cranberry's urinary-tract benefits. It is used for urinary and bladder health, most often by women.

What is Cranbey used for?

Cranbey is researched primarily for Kidney/Urinary Tract and Women's Health. Cranberry products have been tested in dozens of trials. Pooled results showed fewer repeat urinary infections in women who get them often, in children and after some medical procedures, but showed little effect in older adults in care home…

What is the recommended dosage of Cranbey?

No dose has been tested for this product. Cranberry trials used juices, tablets and capsules at many doses, and pooled results could not show a difference between low and high PAC doses. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Cranbey safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Cranbey include: In pooled cranberry trials, gastrointestinal side effects were probably no more common than with placebo or no treatment; no tolerability data for this branded concentrate are cited here. It may also interact with some medications. Cranbey is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Cranbey interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Warfarin: evidence on an interaction with cranberry is conflicting. Tell your prescriber and monitor INR if you combine them. Not a substitute for antibiotics during an active infection. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Cranbey?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Cranbey as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 study summary and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Williams G, Stothart CI, Hahn D, Stephens JH, Craig JC, Hodson EM. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;11(11):CD001321. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub7.PubMedUsed to support: Cochrane review of 50 trials (8,857 participants) of cranberry products, not of this branded ingredient. Cranberry reduced symptomatic, culture-verified urinary tract infections overall (RR 0.70, moderate certainty), including in women with recurrent infections (RR 0.74), children and people after medical interventions, but showed little or no benefit in elderly institutionalized people, pregnant women or people with bladder emptying problems. No difference was shown between low, moderate and high PAC doses.
  2. Santer M, Miller S, Fraser S, Francis N, Lown M, Becque T, Tenters F, Hanna L, Muller I. Non-antibiotic interventions to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in women: overview of systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials. Br J Gen Pract. 2026;BJGP.2026.0055. doi: 10.3399/BJGP.2026.0055. Online ahead of print..PubMedUsed to support: Overview of 27 systematic reviews of non-antibiotic ways to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in women aged 16 or over, 6 of them on cranberry: cranberry was among the options supported by reviews, with open questions on dose, duration and adherence. It does not test Cranbey or any PAC amount.
  3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Cranberry. NCCIH, National Institutes of Health. 2024;Last updated November 2024..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; NIH fact sheet. Cranberry can cause stomach upset and diarrhea when taken in very large amounts, particularly in young children; evidence on a warfarin interaction is conflicting; cranberry is not recommended as a treatment for an existing urinary tract infection.