Branded cranberry ingredient may support overactive bladder symptoms, says recent study

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A recent study published in the Journal of Urology¹ found that supplementation with cranberry extract may alleviate frequent urination, a symptom of overactive bladder, in women. In the study, 98 women between the ages of 18 and 60 were given either 500 mg of a branded dried cranberry powder called Flowens from Naturex (Avignon, France) or placebo for six months.

Results showed that supplementation reduced daily micturition by 16.4%, urgency episodes b 57.3%, and patient perception of bladder condition by 39.7%. Mean volume per micturition, nocturia, and the remaining outcomes for Sexual Quality of Life-Female, and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory surveys did not differ significantly between the two groups. Although intent-to-treat analysis did now find a statistically significant difference between the groups in these measures, the results are promising and encourage further study with larger cohorts, and longer follow-up periods to determine the long term effects of supplementation.

“Overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms vary from slight to severe and can greatly affect a woman's quality of life. This study shows how women consuming Flowens could experience a reduction in both frequency and the sensation of urgency associated with OAB,” says Emile Fromentin, PhD, head of explore health, wellness, and nutrition for Naturex, in a press release. “These findings build on the positive results of a previous study that demonstrated the benefits of Flowens for reducing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men.”

“For six years now, Flowens has been helping men to improve their quality of life by reducing Low Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) typically associated with prostate issues. It has full regulatory compliance, and it has been awarded seven proprietary men’s health claims,” says Dan Souza, global product manager, in a press release. “With this new study we can significantly broaden the potential for Flowens without the need to create a new ingredient that would be subject to additional approval cycles prior to launch. This brings many benefits – perhaps the most important of which is speed to market.”

Reference

1. Cho A et al. “Efficacy of daily intake of dried cranberry 500 mg in women with overactive bladder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Journal of Urology, Published online ahead of print on September 18, 2020