If you’ve tried everything from A to Z to sort out recurring bouts of cystitis and you are sick to death of drinking gallons of cranberry juice to no effect then a new supplement launched in the UK by a Canadian company Advanced Orthomolecular Research (AOR) might be the answer.
Called AOR D-Mannose, the supplement is derived from natural ingredients and is a simple carbohydrate already present in the body. To explain how it works you have to understand a certain amount about urinary tract infections.
Basically, the body has its own way of flushing out bacteria, but there a few strains called uropthogenic Eschirichia coli or UPEC, which have evolved ways of attaching themselves to the healthy cells of the urinary tract. In very simple terms, these cells have receptor molecules which are like “docking bays” to help them absorb the substances they need for growth and development. Like pirates in an old movie, UPEC bacteria use "grappling hooks" to first hook on to these receptors to invade the cell. Once inside the cell the UPEC bacteria can live and reproduce in safety, shielded from many of the body’s defensive immune responses.
If you think that’s clever listen to this. The UPEC bacteria are so sophisticated that when the body detects that cells have been infected and activates the cell suicide programme to destroy the bacteria, UPEC can actually escape from the dying host cell before it has been flushed out and then it looks for new healthy cells to invade!
HOW AOR’S D-MANNOSE WORKS
The UPEC’s "grappling hooks" are composed of long, fibrous chains of molecular "glue" called adhesin. The urinary tract cell receptors are covered with D-Mannose, which is a simple carbohydrate, and there is a chemical attraction between the adhesin and D-mannose. Taking a supplement of AOR D-Mannose gives the body an excess and, of course, the UPEC can’t tell the difference between the free standing D-Mannose and that which is on the urinary tract cell receptors This in turn gums up their “grappling hooks” and prevents them from hooking onto healthy urinary tract cells!
It was discovered in the late 1980’s that a small amount of D-Mannose is present in the urine normally, apparently acting as a defensive mechanism against pathogenic bacteria. When D-Mannose is taken as a supplement, much more of the carbohydrate passes through the urinary tract, strengthening this natural defence.
AOR’s D-Mannose, derived from the bark of the spruce tree, is available in tablet form and the recommended dose is 1 or 2 tablets a day. Each pot contains 90 tablets (a one month supply) and retails at £20. It is also available in a powder form for those who don’t like taking tablets and this retails at £22 for approximately 25 servings. AOR D-Mannose is now available in the UK from independent health food stores (telephone: 0800 169 1231) or on-line from various sites.
Not all urinary tract infections are caused by UPEC bacteria. So, if you try a course of D-Mannose and infection persists, it is unlikely to be caused by these E. coli bacteria but by some other pathogen. In that case, don’t just keep going on with the supplement in hopes that it will eventually "kick in:" discontinue use of D-Mannose and consult a medical professional for treatment appropriate to your case. However, for the great majority of urinary tract infections, D-Mannose offers a safe, natural option with a simple, ingenious rationale, no known side-effects, and a great reported success rate.
Editor's note: AOR's D-Mannose can be found on
www.supplementsplus.co.uk
Direct link to the product