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Cran-Max (by Life Extension)
500 mg, 60 capsules,
#490, $23.95
Cranberries have been known for decades to promote a healthy urinary tract.* Each Life Extension CranMax capsule contains 500 mg of cranberry concentrate to promote urinary tract health.42-50* Each Cran-Max capsule also contains:
- The synergistic,
complete spectrum activity of the entire cranberry plant - A unique delivery
system that protects its cranberry constituents from degradation UTI or urinary tract infection affects more than 20 million in the U.S. annually and next to respiratory infections, are the most commonly occurring infections in Women. For example, the most frequent complication of pregnancy is a UTI, having the potential to cause premature delivery. Menopausal and perimenopausal Women are also at high risk, because as estrogen levels decline, tissues in the urinary and reproductive tracts thin out, becoming more easily infected, causing burning and urgency to urinate. Occasionally, urination is accompanied by excruciating pain. Occurring infrequently in men until about the age of 50, UTI thereafter, becomes more common, and are usually linked to prostatitis. The organism most often responsible for urinary tract infection is Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium normally found in the digestive tract and present on the skin around the rectal area in both men and Women. In Women, these bacteria easily migrate across the perineum, the narrow band of flesh between the anus and the vagina, to the urethra. This bacterial invasion can result in acute cystitis, the most common urinary tract infection. When bacteria from the bladder ascend to the kidneys a more serious infection called pyelonephritis is the result. Male anatomy makes infection less likely and secretions from the prostate gland tends to inhibit this type of bacterial invasion. It is a common misconception that UTI is the result of the transfer of infection from a sexual partner. The actual mechanism is that during sex, bacteria in the vagina are pushed into the urethra and from there migrate to the bladder. However, UTI can affect Women of all ages, including the very young and the elderly, long before and long after sexual activity. Antibiotics may be needed to treat the acute urinary tract infection, however, for many this is not the best option. Modern studies have confirmed that an old folklore treatment for UTI works. Cranberries are effective in the treatment of UTI’s. These studies
have established that: Newly published studies show that using one timed release, broad spectrum cranberry capsule per day gives the best results. The Life Extension Foundation’s Cran-Max cranberry concentrate can provide significant protection against UTI. Unlike many
diluted cranberry supplements, each capsule: - Has a unique delivery
system that protects its cranberry constituents from degradation. - Has been shown to
improve UTI symptoms of burning, stinging and pain by 100%, urgency by
60%, frequency by 44%. - Contains potent antioxidants. Supplement
Facts
LE Magazine December 1999 Needed: a better cranberry supplement Self-medication with cranberry juice cocktail is a common approach to dealing with a UTI-and has often been recommended by physicians as an adjunct to antibiotic treatments. But this could certainly be termed the old-fashioned route. First of all, cranberry juice cocktail contains only 27% cranberry juice; the remainder is sweetened water. While it may be somewhat effective against UTIs, drinking large amounts of this super-sweetened cocktail has many drawbacks in our health-conscious society-too much sugar, all those calories. This isn't the preference of most women. For diabetics, this becomes an impossible prescription. An obvious alternative would be a cranberry supplement. The most potent cranberry supplements to date have provided the equivalent of sixteen 8 oz glasses of cranberry juice in two capsules. The recommended dose is one capsule every 12 hours. These highly concentrated cranberry supplements have shown efficacy in preventing and facilitating treatment in those suffering from UTIs. There are also low concentration cranberry extracts that require three to eight tablets or capsules a day in order to obtain enough of the active constituents cranberry needed to fight off UTIs. Some of these cranberry supplements are so diluted they have little or no bioactive values, and therefore fail to provide an effective shield against UTI. The ultimate way of treating UTIs is to prevent bacterial adherence to the urinary wall. Therefore, a low-cost, one-a-day cranberry extract supplement would be ideal for women who are at risk for developing a urinary tract infection. For most people, it's far easier to remember to take one pill a day rather than to take one pill every 12 hours.
Given the widespread occurrence of UTIs, their potential seriousness, and the urgent need for relief to those afflicted-plus women's desire to ward off UTIs through a preventative maintenance program-there has been a major need for a better cranberry supplement to enter the market. Now, a super-charged supplement that utilizes the complete cranberry is available. The trade-name of this extract is Cran-Max™, and its state-of-the art technology is patent-pending by the Cape Cod Biolab Corporation. Unlike many low-cost cranberry supplements made from diminished juice extracts, this nutraceutical cranberry supplement contains all of the synergistic, full-spectrum activity of the entire cranberry herb-the fruit, seeds and skin and fully vitalized juice. Additionally, Cran-Max has a unique, all-natural delivery system that protects its cranberry bioactives from degradation while traveling through the stomach, and provides a sustained release of its powerful cran factor to the sites of action in the urinary tract. This means that the E. coli bacteria are continually barraged by the anti-adhesion, deactivating cranberry components over an extended period of time. By comparison, ordinary supplements may deliver a small, insufficient amount of cran factor, and the E. coli quickly recover and continue their colonization. The extended release feature of Cran-Max holds the E. coli at bay. Colony after colony of the bacteria are rendered helpless to adhere to the urothelial walls, and are washed away in the normal cleaning process of the urinary tract. This new maximized cranberry, in contrast to the ordinary cranberry extract supplements with their recommended usage of two to eight capsules per day has been proven clinically effective at a dosage rate of just one 500 mg. capsule per day.
In a recent pilot study conducted by urologist Ronald Wheeler, 38 women of varying ages, all with symptoms of chronic urinary tract infection and urethritis, were given one time-release capsule a day. A standard questionnaire, consistent with guidelines developed by the American Urologic Association, was used to rate nine symptoms. Included were such questions as, "How many times do you get up during the night to urinate? How often do you have the sensation of not emptying your bladder?" The questionnaire also contained a scoring method used for rating, on a 1 to 5 level, sensations of burning, stinging and pain experienced during urination. Study results were extremely impressive, showing a 100% improvement for all participants in respect of burning, stinging and pain; a 60% improvement in urgency; and a 44% improvement in frequency. In a recent interview, Dr. Wheeler stated: "I can tell you that over 90% of the women in the study noted a significant improvement in all nine categories. At this point in time, I haven't found one woman in the study who hasn't experienced significant improvement. It's a tremendous response." Additionally, other clinical outcome studies are in progress. The results from this research to date is affirming the effectiveness of Cran-Max as the paragon of cranberry concentrate supplements. According to Dr. Wheeler, "One of the best things about this maintenance program is the convenience. This maximized formula takes just one 500 mg capsule a day. One capsule a day becomes part of a woman's daily regimen, giving her a powerful program for maintaining a healthy urinary tract."
Perhaps the most significant aspect of this Cran-Max, with its maximum potency, is that it suggests the possibility of reducing the amount of antibiotics used in dealing with UTIs. The press is full of stories about an ever-increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics being used. A woman with recurrent UTIs is likely to be given a rotating series of prescribed antibiotics by her doctor in an effort to outwit newly resistant bacterial strains. Continued use of antibiotics may become a real health consideration. This tends to have an effect on the friendly flora in a woman's body, which can lead to additional health problems. Initial indications are that Cran-Max has a prophylactic value to doctors for treating women vulnerable to recurrent UTIs. Since cranberry does not actually kill E. coli, but instead only affects the bacteria's ability to colonize in the urinary tract, it is believed unlikely that the bacteria will genetically seek to develop a resistance to cranberry extract as they would to antibiotics. Used in a daily maintenance program, just one Cran-Max capsule a day can likely head off many UTIs before they occur, thus offering a preventative that can also cut down on the need for a trip to the doctor's office and an ensuing antibiotic being prescribed. For generations, women have been told by their grandmothers that cranberry is a helpful herbal remedy for warding off urinary tract infections. Now, women everywhere can have a simple, one-tablet a day, maintenance product that works effortlessly, every day, to help maintain a healthy urinary tract. The new, maximized cranberry promises to be a potent weapon against that "pesky problem." Your grandmother would like that. -G. Heidi Cannon
References Aarts T. Publisher
and consultant, natural products industry. Ocean Spray estimates that
30% of all cranberry juice sold (approx. $500 million annually) is consumed
by UTI sufferers seeking private relief. Paper presented at National Nutritional
Foods Association Annual Meeting, San Antonio. July, 1998.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease Warning The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician. |
Cranberries
have been known for decades to promote a healthy urinary tract