Home Ingredients Pacran® (Whole Cranberry Fruit Powder — Givaudan/Naturex)
Kidney/Urinary TractWomen's Health

Pacran® (Whole Cranberry Fruit Powder — Givaudan/Naturex)

Vaccinium macrocarpon
Evidence Level
Moderate
2 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
3/5 Evidence Score

Pacran is a whole cranberry fruit powder from Givaudan, standardized to more than 1.5% proanthocyanidins (PACs) by HPLC and taken as one 500 mg capsule a day. In a 6-month placebo-controlled trial in 150 women with repeat urinary tract infections, women taking Pacran had about half the risk of a culture-confirmed infection (relative risk 0.48), although symptom-based suspected infections did not differ significantly. It was sponsored by a supplement company. An earlier 182-woman trial of the same powder reported fewer infections, but the European Food Safety Authority found its results inconsistent and, in 2025, judged the overall evidence insufficient for an EU health claim. The FDA allows a qualified claim for 500 mg a day of cranberry supplements in healthy women who have had a UTI and calls that evidence limited. Cranberry does not treat an active infection, so anyone with symptoms should see a clinician.

Studied Dose 500 mg/day (1 capsule).
Active Compound Whole cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit powder standardized to more than 1.5% proanthocyanidins (PACs) by HPLC.

Benefits

Urinary tract health in women

In a 6-month placebo-controlled trial in 150 women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections, one 500 mg capsule a day lowered the risk of a urine-culture-confirmed infection by 52% (relative risk 0.48) and delayed the first one. Symptom-based suspected infections did not differ significantly (p=0.08). The trial was industry sponsored, and the FDA calls the evidence for cranberry supplements limited.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Second trial of the same powder

An earlier 6-month randomized trial in 182 women with 2 or more infections in the past year tested 500 mg a day of Pacran (its PAC content was reported as 0.56% by a different test method). Fewer women on Pacran had an infection (10.8% versus 25.8%). The European Food Safety Authority noted protocol deviations and judged that this trial did not show a consistent effect.

Supported by Trial 1

Safety over 6 months

In the 150-woman trial, no safety concerns were reported over 6 months of daily use and blood safety markers were unaffected. In the 2023 Cochrane review of cranberry products, gastrointestinal side effects probably did not differ from placebo. Longer-term data on this ingredient are lacking, and cranberry should not replace a treatment your clinician prescribes.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Anti-adhesion of E. coli

Cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) block the attachment of P-fimbriated E. coli to the cells lining the bladder in laboratory and urine-sample experiments. Less attachment is thought to let more bacteria be flushed out with urine. This has not been proven as the mechanism in people, and cranberry does not kill bacteria.

Clinical trials

1
Earlier Pacran trial in women with recurrent UTIs
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-centre trial of 500 mg/day whole cranberry fruit powder for 6 months; the brand is not named in the abstract, but EFSA identifies it as Pacran with 0.56% PACs by the BL-DMAC method (Vostalova et al. 2015, Phytother Res)

182 women with 2 or more UTIs in the previous year (89 cranberry, 93 placebo).

In the intent-to-treat analysis, 10.8% of the cranberry group versus 25.8% of the placebo group had a UTI (p=0.04), and time to a first UTI was longer (p=0.04). Blood tests stayed normal. EFSA found inconsistencies between the study report and the publication and protocol deviations, and concluded the trial did not show a consistent effect of Pacran on UTI incidence.

2
Pacran and culture-confirmed UTIs
PubMed

Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of one 500 mg Pacran capsule a day for 6 months (Stonehouse et al. 2025, Am J Clin Nutr)

150 healthy women aged 18 to 65 with 3 or more UTIs in the past year or up to 2 in the past 6 months.

The primary outcome, culture-confirmed UTI, was 52% less likely on Pacran (adjusted relative risk 0.48, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.87, p=0.01). Time to a first UTI was longer (hazard ratio 0.36) and total UTIs were lower (rate ratio 0.41). E. coli UTIs were borderline (relative risk 0.49, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.01, p=0.05). Symptom-based suspected UTIs (p=0.08) and culture-confirmed painful urination (p=0.10) did not differ significantly. No safety concerns were reported. Sponsored by Swisse Wellness; Givaudan supplied the powder.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

No safety concerns were reported in the 6-month placebo-controlled trial, and adverse events did not differ meaningfully from placebo. Safety beyond 6 months has not been well studied.
Mild gastrointestinal effects rarely reported.
Possible mild urine color change.
If you have a history of kidney stones, check with your clinician before starting.

Important Drug interactions

Warfarin: if you take warfarin, talk to your prescriber before starting cranberry and have your INR checked.
Antibiotics: Pacran is not a treatment for an active urinary tract infection and must not be used in place of prescribed antibiotics. In the 2023 Cochrane review, cranberry products made little or no difference compared with antibiotics for preventing repeat infections (relative risk 1.03, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.33). Anyone with UTI symptoms should see a clinician.
Pregnancy and lactation: cranberry in normal food amounts is generally considered fine, but supplement doses have not been tested for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. The 2023 Cochrane review also found no benefit for preventing UTIs in pregnancy (relative risk 1.06, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.50). Ask your obstetric provider before using it.
Children: Pacran itself has not been studied in children; the trials behind this page were in adult women. Cranberry products overall did reduce repeat UTIs in children in the Cochrane review, but that is generic cranberry rather than this branded powder, and a child with a UTI needs medical evaluation.

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Frequently asked questions about Pacran® (Whole Cranberry Fruit Powder — Givaudan/Naturex)

What is Pacran?

Pacran is a whole cranberry fruit powder from Givaudan, standardized to more than 1.5% proanthocyanidins (PACs) by HPLC and taken as one 500 mg capsule a day. In a 6-month placebo-controlled trial in 150 women with repeat urinary tract infections, women taking Pacran had about half the risk of a culture-confirmed infec…

What is Pacran used for?

Pacran is researched primarily for Kidney/Urinary Tract and Women's Health. In a 6-month placebo-controlled trial in 150 women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections, one 500 mg capsule a day lowered the risk of a urine-culture-confirmed infection by 52% (relative risk 0.48) and delayed the first one.

What is the recommended dosage of Pacran?

The clinically studied dose is 500 mg/day (1 capsule). Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Pacran safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Pacran include: No safety concerns were reported in the 6-month placebo-controlled trial, and adverse events did not differ meaningfully from placebo. Safety beyond 6 months has not been well studied. Mild gastrointestinal effects rarely reported. It may also interact with some medications. Pacran 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 Pacran interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Warfarin: if you take warfarin, talk to your prescriber before starting cranberry and have your INR checked. Antibiotics: Pacran is not a treatment for an active urinary tract infection and must not be used in place of prescribed antibiotics. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Pacran?

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

References(5 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. Stonehouse W, Benassi-Evans B, Bednarz J, Vincent AD. Whole cranberry fruit powder supplement reduces the incidence of culture-confirmed urinary tract infections in females with a history of recurrent urinary tract infection: A 6-month multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2025;121(4):932-941. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.01.022.PubMedUsed to support: In 150 women with a history of recurrent UTI, one 500 mg Pacran capsule a day for 6 months cut culture-confirmed UTI risk by 52% (adjusted RR 0.48) versus placebo and delayed the first UTI. Symptom-based suspected UTIs and culture-confirmed painful urination did not differ significantly. Sponsored by Swisse Wellness, with Givaudan supplying the powder.
  2. Vostalova J, Vidlar A, Simanek V, Galandakova A, Kosina P, Vacek J, Vrbkova J, Zimmermann BF, Ulrichova J, Student V. Are High Proanthocyanidins Key to Cranberry Efficacy in the Prevention of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection? Phytother Res. 2015;29(10):1559-67. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5427.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized double-blind trial in 182 women with 2 or more UTIs in the past year: 500 mg/day whole cranberry fruit powder (0.56% PACs) for 6 months led to fewer UTIs than placebo (10.8% versus 25.8%, p=0.04) and a longer time to first UTI. The brand is not named in the abstract; EFSA's 2025 opinion identifies the powder as Pacran and judged the results inconsistent.
  3. 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 people). Cranberry products probably reduced symptomatic, culture-verified UTIs in women with recurrent UTIs (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.99), in children and after medical procedures, but showed little or no benefit in elderly people in care homes (RR 0.93), pregnant women (RR 1.06) or people with bladder-emptying problems (RR 0.97), and little or no difference versus antibiotics (RR 1.03).
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Announces Qualified Health Claim for Certain Cranberry Products and Urinary Tract Infections FDA Constituent Update. 2020;July 21, 2020..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed (FDA web page). FDA will not object to the qualified claim: 'Limited scientific evidence shows that by consuming 500 mg each day of cranberry dietary supplement, healthy women who have had a urinary tract infection (UTI) may reduce their risk of recurrent UTI.' FDA found limited credible evidence for cranberry supplements.
  5. EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), Turck D, Bohn T, Cámara M, Castenmiller J, de Henauw S, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Jos A, Maciuk A, Mangelsdorf I, McNulty B, Naska A, Pentieva K, Thies F, Craciun I, Fiolet T, Siani A. Pacran®, a powder obtained from cranberries, and defence against bacterial pathogens in the lower urinary tract: Evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA J. 2025;23(4):e9319. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9319.PubMedUsed to support: EU scientific opinion on Givaudan's application for Pacran. It identifies the powder in Vostalova et al. 2015 as Pacran (0.56% soluble PACs by the BL-DMAC method), finds protocol deviations and judges that trial did not show a consistent effect, accepts that the newer multicentre Australian trial showed fewer culture-confirmed UTIs, and concludes the evidence is insufficient to establish a cause and effect relationship.