Can D-Mannose help with UTIs & cystitis?
According to LIVE UTI FREE, D-mannose for UTIs made it into their list of the ten most searched UTI home remedies, among other UTI home remedies like cranberry, vitamin C, and probiotics (1)
In this blog we explain:
- What UTIs are?
- What D-mannose is?
- Show studies that suggests D-mannose can help with UTIs and cystitis.
- Explain what to look for when buying D-mannose.
What is an UTI?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra.(7) Based on clinical and biochemical criteria, UTIs are classified into lower (cystitis) and upper (pyelonephritis) infections.(6)
"Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most prevalent bacterial infections in women and elderly individuals. This type of infection although can cause less severe life-threatening infections but the patient experienced significant distress. Except among infants and the elderly, the infection occurs more commonly in women than in men and it was estimated that about 40–50% of women experience one episode in their lives and 20–30% of them have other episodes. (5)
Here are many of the symptoms of UTIs:
- pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
- needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia)
- pee that looks cloudy
- needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
- needing to pee more often than usual
- blood in your pee
- lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- a very low temperature below 36C (9)
Chronic UTI Recognition
After years of campaigners showing the pain and harmful effects of chronic urinary track infections the NHS has publicly recognised that chronic (UTIs) exist and has updated its advice for patients following pressure from the campaign groups. Previously there was no information around chronic bladder infections.(10)
For many patients who develop a UTI, their experience is extremely painful but short-lived. But for thousands of others, a one-off acute attack turns into a chronic infection that dominates their lives and lasts for months or even years. (11)
What is D-mannose?
D-Mannose is a sugar similar to glucose. It is produced in the human body naturally and can be found in the form of starch from plants. It can be found in foods such as apples, oranges and broccoli.
Unlike most sugars, D-Mannose is able to pass through the urinary tract unaltered. Sugars such as D-Mannose are thought to help cell-to-cell communication and therefore are considered essential for the body.
Now we have a basic understanding about both UTIs and D-mannose let's look at the linked evidence between D-mannose, UTIs and cystitis.
Promising evidence that suggests D-mannose can help with UTIs and cystitis...
D-mannose is gaining more popularity for its benefits of passing through the urinary tract (unaltered) which has been linked to helping/preventing UTIs & cystitis, the likes of Glamour Magazine are reporting stories on it - "I suffered from cystitis for 15 years until I found this little-known affordable and natural remedy that changed my life"
"I have been cystitis-free now for five years. I started telling my friends - also big cystitis sufferers - about it and it stopped their pain too. I was like an evangelist, shouting it from the rooftops to anyone who’d listen. And now I’m telling you, fellow cystitis sufferer. You’re welcome." - Click to read full story! (12)
Even though there are many success stories of individuals trying D-mannose to help with UTIs, there still isn't a huge amount of research. Here's some we found for you...
The largest and most heavily referenced study in humans we have found involved 308 women. In this study, the prophylactic use of D-mannose significantly reduced the risk of recurrent UTI, and was shown to be as effective as nitrofurantoin, an antibiotic. (3)
A more recent study showed D-mannose was significantly more effective in preventing recurrent UTI in 36 pregnant women compared with no treatment over the 6-month study period (4)
In a 2014 study, D-mannose was compared to the antibiotic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for treatment and prevention of frequent UTIs in 60 women. D-mannose reduced UTI symptoms in women with an active infection. It was also more effective than the antibiotic for preventing additional infections.(8)
Since treatment for frequent UTIs is long-term low-dose antibiotic use (six months or longer). Having a non-antibiotic treatment for this type of infection—which accounts for more than six million doctor visits a year—would help prevent antibiotic resistance. (2)
Springer Open, summarises their research on 'deep insights into urinary tract infections and effective natural remedies' with:
Herbal medicines can be effective at the first sign of the infection and also for short-term prophylaxis. Using vitamins, trace elementals, and/or sugars is an effective approach in preventing UTIs, and a combination of them with other antibacterial agents shows positive results. Probiotics have great potential for the threat of antibiotic over-usage and the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. This study may be of use in developing the efficient formulation of treatment of UTI. (6)
What to look for when buying D-mannose?
Due to the very small amount of D-mannose which can be consumed in foods, supplementing with D-mannose for a higher dosage may be a better solution. When choosing the best supplements for yourself D-mannose can come in powder, capsule and tablet form - Choosing which one of these is easy due to it being on preference. When choosing the brand of supplements be aware many brands do not disclose the original source of the D-mannose in their products. This can make it difficult to know whether the products is high quality D-mannose, and whether it contains other chemicals that are not listed on the label (bad bulking agents and unnatural ingredients).
At Peak Supps® our D-mannose powder is 100% D-Mannose Powder, (nothing added, nothing taken away) and our D-mannose capsules again are 100% D-Mannose Powder with Capsule Shell (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose).
Make sure to share this blog with anyone suffering from UTIs or cystitis!
____________________________________________
IMPORTANT NOTICE* Advice is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP before trying any remedies.
**Since D-mannose can alter your blood sugar levels, it's crucial for people with diabetes to take caution when using D-mannose supplements. Not enough is known about the safety of the supplement during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so it should be avoided. Children shouldn't take D-mannose as well.**
Sources tagged within blog & below:
| Reference | Source | Link |
| (1) | LIVE UTI FREE | https://liveutifree.com/d-mannose-for-uti/ |
| (2) | Very Well Health | https://www.verywellhealth.com/d-mannose-for-bladder-health-89443 |
| (3) | LIVE UTI FREE | https://liveutifree.com/d-mannose-for-uti/ |
| (4) | NICE 2018© | https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng112/documents/evidence-review |
| (5) | Springer Open | https://afju.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12301-020-00111-z |
| (6) | NCBI | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7465228/ |
| (7) | Mayo Clinic | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447 |
| (8) | Health Line | https://www.healthline.com/health/d-mannose-for-uti#research |
| (9) | NHS | https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/ |
| (10) | inews | https://inews.co.uk/news/chronic-uti-crisis-treament-diagnosis-symptoms-failures-women-pain-years-1231089?ico=in-line_link |
| (11) | inews | https://inews.co.uk/opinion/uti-common-condition-treatment-testing-inadequate-women-suffer-decades-1188843?ico=in-line_link |
| (12) | Glamour Magazine | https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/d-mannose-cystitis |
