Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon

The Basics

What is Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon?

Used to prevent urinary tract infections and to improve the smell of urine in people who are incontinent.

Brand names for Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon

N/A

How Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon is classified

Complementary Therapies, Food, Phytotherapy, Plants, Medicinal

Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon During Pregnancy

Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon while pregnant

N/A

Taking Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon?

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit contains phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, and ellagitannins. Some products are standardized based on quinic acid and others are standardized based on phenolics. Cranberry is most often used for prevention of urinary tract infections. It has no specific lactation-related uses. No data exist on the excretion of any components of cranberry into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of cranberry in nursing mothers or infants.[1] Cranberry preparations are generally well tolerated as a food, although stomach discomfort and diarrhea can occur with large doses. Cranberry should be avoided in patients allergic to cranberries, blueberries and other Vaccinium species. Some cases of elevated INR have been reported in patients taking cranberry and warfarin. No recommendations can be made on the use of large quantities of cranberry products during breastfeeding. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit contains phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, and ellagitannins. Some products are standardized based on quinic acid and others are standardized based on phenolics. Cranberry is most often used for prevention of urinary tract infections. It has no specific lactation-related uses. No data exist on the excretion of any components of cranberry into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of cranberry in nursing mothers or infants.[1] Cranberry preparations are generally well tolerated as a food, although stomach discomfort and diarrhea can occur with large doses. Cranberry should be avoided in patients allergic to cranberries, blueberries and other Vaccinium species. Some cases of elevated INR have been reported in patients taking cranberry and warfarin. No recommendations can be made on the use of large quantities of cranberry products during breastfeeding. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Possible effects of Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Cranberry / Vaccinium macrocarpon

None listed