Health and disorders of the urinary tract

Disorders of the lower urinary tract are a very common condition. They mainly affect adult women, with an incidence 50 times higher than in men, due to the shorter length of the female urethra which allows bacteria from the intestine to migrate to the bladder.

Of the agents responsible for urinary tract disorders, an important role is played by Escherichia coli, a germ that originates in the intestine and travels up to the bladder. The next stage is characterised by multiplication and local colonisation with adhesion of the bacteria to the bladder’s walls, thanks to the presence of small suckers known as adhesins. Having attached themselves to the bladder’s walls, Escherichia coli bacteria activate a process of the release of substances that call on other bacteria with the formation of organised colonies that form what is known as the ‘biofilm’. These structures form an actual shield that allows the bacteria to escape the action of the immune system that defends the body and the effects of antibiotics. The survival of the germs in the latent phase will subsequently make it possible for these colonies to release bacteria, causing a recurrence of the urinary tract infection.

Plants and nutritional supplements

To prevent the recurrence of urinary tract disorders. The natural preparations on the market make the best use of the properties of American cranberry, in particular, as well as those of mannose, acetylcysteine, and Birch which, working together, promote the well-being of the urinary tract.

American Cranberry

American cranberry berries (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.), a shrub of the Ericaceae family, are used to control recurring urinary tract infections. The widespread use of Cranberry-based products stems from a study carried out in 1994 and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): on 153 elderly women suffering from recurrent urinary tract disorders, the intake of 300 grams of American cranberry juice for 6 months proved to be effective in reducing urinary tract infections. Thanks to the fact that it is rich in procyanidins, this fruit inhibits the adhesion of germs to the mucous membrane that coats the urinary tract, promoting their elimination with urine. It also causes urine to acidify, thus creating an unfavourable environment for germs and, in particular, for Escherichia coli, which is often responsible for the disorders.

Birch

The birch tree contains all the energy and active principles needed to restore the acid-base balance: it facilitates the elimination of urine, removes the deposits of acid substances from the connective tissue matrix, expels waste and toxins, and promotes tissue regeneration