What are Proanthocyanidins (PACs)?
- PACs are a type of polyphenol, a plant-based micronutrient full of antioxidants. It can be found in many fruits, but cranberries have an especially high concentration of PACs.
- PACs work to block UTI-causing bacteria, such as E-Coli, the most common causing UTI bacteria, from attaching to the bladder wall and causing an infection. PACs flush these harmful invaders out of your system to help maintain urinary tract health.
- The PACs found in cranberries have a different structure than those found in other fruits and vegetables–this is linked to their anti-adhesion properties.
It’s the PACs, within cranberries, that are clinically proven to maintain a healthy urinary tract and protect bladder health. But most cranberry supplements do not contain PACs.
- Many cranberry supplements don’t have any, or enough, PACs to be effective. It’s complex, and costly, to extract a lot of PACs from cranberries.
- For a UTI to occur, bacteria must invade and adhere to the lining of the bladder. Inside cranberries are molecules called proanthocyanidins (PACs). These PACs can help stop bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall and reduce the chance of infection.
- In May 2019, The American Urological Association (AUA) included the use of cranberry PACs in its recommended guidelines to help reduce the incidence of recurrent UTIs.
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The AUA guidelines say PACs are a safe, non-antibiotic option that can make it more difficult for UTI-causing bacteria to stick to the urinary tract.
- To be effective against bacteria, the dosage (36mgs) and concentrated strength (15%) of PACs must be exact. It must be medical grade and precision controlled to fight off UTI-causing bacteria.
Benefits of cranberry as a superfood 
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Cranberries are a superfood packed with antioxidants and good for maintaining overall health. It’s long been thought cranberries can also reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections.
- But cranberry juice, chewables, and others have high amounts of sugar, and clinical studies show they do not have anti-UTI fighting qualities.
- It is only the bioactive ingredient in cranberries, called PACs, that can make it more difficult for bacteria to adhere to the bladder wall.
Managing UTIs
While a 2014 study found that taking a capsule of cranberry extract twice per day reduced the frequency of UTIs, a 2015 study found cranberry juice unlikely to have the same effect. This is because it takes a high concentration of cranberry extract to make bacterial adhesion a challenge, and most cranberry juices do not contain high enough PAC levels. In comparison to regular cranberry pills, each Utiva Control capsule contains 36 mg of PACs at a 15% concentration–the clinically proven amount necessary to effectively reduce the risk of UTIs–and one of the highest on the market.
Reducing cardiovascular disease
Some evidence suggests that the polyphenols contained in cranberries may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by helping to manage systolic blood pressure, reduce body mass index, and improve levels of “good cholesterol.”
Slowing cancer progression
A 2016 review found that cranberries or cranberry compounds could trigger the death of cancer cells in a test tube, slow their growth, and reduce inflammation, showing promise for the future management of cancers in humans.
Enhancing oral health
The anti-adhesive qualities of cranberry PACs may also promote oral health, making it more difficult for bacteria to stick to the surface of the teeth.
Watch this quick video learn about natural UTI prevention and cranberry PACs.
Does cranberry juice actually help a UTI?
In most cases, cranberry juice will not significantly reduce the occurrence of UTIs because the cranberry juice sold in grocery stores does not contain enough PACs to stop bacteria from binding to the walls of your urinary tract. What about 100% pure cranberry juice? Unfortunately, to be effective, you'd need to drink enough to cause other problems like excess calories or gastrointestinal issues. Much like cranberry juice, most cranberry capsules work to help avoid future infections, if at all, and aren’t that helpful if you already have an infection. Utiva Control was created to address this lack of potency: each capsule contains 36 mg of PACs at a 15% concentration–the precise clinically proven amount necessary to effectively reduce the risk of UTIs.
Utiva Urinary Tract Infection Control Supplement
- Utiva UTI Control Supplement is produced at a 15% concentration of PACs resulting in the exact must-have dosage of 36mg of PAC in each capsule. We use a scientifically proven method to measure the precise PAC concentration (called the BL-DMAC method).
- Our supplement is extracted from whole fresh cranberries which ensure we get PACs from all components of a cranberry - not only from the juice or the insoluble parts of the fruit (seeds, skins, pulp, and flesh.) This full source of PACs has strong positive effects on gut and bladder health and provides a greater amount of antioxidants.
Many cranberry supplements don’t have any, or enough, PACs to be effective. It’s complex, and costly, to extract a lot of PACs from cranberries.
- Standard portions of cranberries and most cranberry supplement only provide a minimal amount of PACs, usually 1 % or less than 5 mgs. This is not enough to combat infections.
- Research at Rutgers University revealed that high concentration 500mg cranberry products had no effect on E-Coli.
- To be effective against bacteria, the dosage (36mgs) and concentrated strength (15%) of PACs must be exact. It must be medical grade and precision controlled to fight off UTI-causing bacteria.
- Clinical studies have proven that 36 mgs of concentrated PACs once a day is required to help prevent UTI recurrences.