What the evidence says. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.
Nutrition per serving 1 cup whole (100 g)
Water87.3 g87%
Sugars4.3 g4%
Fibre3.6 g4%
Other carbs4.1 g4%
Protein0.5 g0%
Fat0.1 g0%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a fruit used for reduces risk of recurrent urinary tract infections in susceptible groups (women with recurrent utis, children). NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. The strongest human evidence is for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections: a 2023 Cochrane review of 50 studies (8,857 participants; 45 placebo-controlled RCTs) found cranberry products reduce the risk of symptomatic, culture-verified UTIs in women with recurrent infections, in children, and in other susceptible people (overall RR about 0.70), with proanthocyanidins thought to block E. coli adhesion; no benefit was seen in the elderly, those with bladder-emptying problems, or pregnant women. A dose-response meta-analysis suggests the effect concentrates at intakes of about 36 mg proanthocyanidins per day or more (roughly 18% risk reduction). Cardiometabolic data are weaker and inconsistent: meta-analyses report a modest reduction in systolic blood pressure and BMI but no reliable change in lipids, glucose, or inflammatory markers. Most positive trials use juice or concentrated supplements rather than whole fruit, and quality is often limited by small samples, heterogeneity, and industry funding. Whole raw cranberries are nutrient-dense and low in sugar but are too tart to eat in large quantities, so real-world intake usually comes from sweetened products that add sugar.
Purported Benefits
✓Reduces risk of recurrent urinary tract infections in susceptible groups (women with recurrent UTIs, children)
✓Proanthocyanidins inhibit E. coli adhesion to the bladder wall
✓Rich source of vitamin C and antioxidant polyphenols
✓Possible inhibition of H. pylori and oral-bacteria adhesion
✓Low sugar relative to most fruits
Dosing & Compounds
Typical Dose
A standard culinary serving is about 1 cup (100 g) of fresh raw berries. For UTI prevention, trials use cranberry juice or capsules; benefit is most consistent at doses delivering roughly 36 mg or more of proanthocyanidins per day, taken continuously for several weeks to months.
Active Compounds
A-type proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins)Anthocyanins (cyanidin & peonidin glycosides)Quercetin and other flavonolsVitamin C (ascorbic acid)Organic acids (quinic, malic, citric)Vitamin E (tocopherols)ManganesePectin (soluble fibre)Ursolic acid (triterpenoid)
Safety & Cautions
⚠
Generally safe as a food. Cranberry juice and concentrated extracts may potentiate warfarin and increase bleeding/INR in some reports, so anticoagulant users should be cautious. Cranberries are high in oxalate and may raise kidney-stone risk in predisposed individuals at high intakes. Commercial cranberry juices and dried cranberries are often heavily sweetened, adding significant sugar and calories. Acidic juice can aggravate reflux; rare allergy is possible. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Cranberry with any medicine.
Cranberry is most often taken for Reduces risk of recurrent urinary tract infections in susceptible groups (women with recurrent UTIs, children), Proanthocyanidins inhibit E. coli adhesion to the bladder wall, May modestly lower systolic blood pressure (inconsistent evidence), Rich source of vitamin C and antioxidant polyphenols. Tart berry studied for urinary tract health
Does Cranberry work — what does the evidence say?
Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. The strongest human evidence is for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections: a 2023 Cochrane review of 50 studies (8,857 participants; 45 placebo-controlled RCTs) found cranberry products reduce the risk of symptomatic, culture-verified UTIs in women with recurrent infections, in children, and in other susceptible people (overall RR about 0.70), with proanthocyanidins thought to block E. coli adhesion; no benefit was seen in the elderly, those with bladder-emptying problems, or pregnant women. A dose-response meta-analysis suggests the effect concentrates at intakes of about 36 mg proanthocyanidins per day or more (roughly 18% risk reduction). Cardiometabolic data are weaker and inconsistent: meta-analyses report a modest reduction in systolic blood pressure and BMI but no reliable change in lipids, glucose, or inflammatory markers. Most positive trials use juice or concentrated supplements rather than whole fruit, and quality is often limited by small samples, heterogeneity, and industry funding. Whole raw cranberries are nutrient-dense and low in sugar but are too tart to eat in large quantities, so real-world intake usually comes from sweetened products that add sugar.
What is the typical dose of Cranberry?
A standard culinary serving is about 1 cup (100 g) of fresh raw berries. For UTI prevention, trials use cranberry juice or capsules; benefit is most consistent at doses delivering roughly 36 mg or more of proanthocyanidins per day, taken continuously for several weeks to months.
Is Cranberry safe? Any cautions or side effects?
Generally safe as a food. Cranberry juice and concentrated extracts may potentiate warfarin and increase bleeding/INR in some reports, so anticoagulant users should be cautious. Cranberries are high in oxalate and may raise kidney-stone risk in predisposed individuals at high intakes. Commercial cranberry juices and dried cranberries are often heavily sweetened, adding significant sugar and calories. Acidic juice can aggravate reflux; rare allergy is possible.
How many studies support Cranberry?
NutriDex cites 11 sources for Cranberry, graded "Moderate".
Cite this page
APA
Peh, D. (2026). Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 16 Sept 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/cranberry
BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_cranberry,
author = {Peh, Daryl},
title = {Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
url = {https://nutridex.info/s/cranberry},
note = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-09-16}
}
For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.