Alternative Approach to Bladder/Kidney Infections

AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO CHRONIC BLADDER OR KIDNEY INFECTIONS

-Daniel Fry D.C.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infection in the United States, and account for more than 8 million visits to doctors each year. Broadly speaking, UTIs refer to infections anywhere along the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, bladder, and in men -the prostate.

Symptoms of UTIs vary, ranging from:

• pain or burning sensations during urination
• straining during urination
• abnormal frequency of urination
• inability to urinate completely
• and incontinence.

Muscle ache and abdominal pain are other associated symptoms of UTI, and usually occur in older women and in men with prostatitis. In some cases, UTIs can also cause fever, which is almost always a sign that the infection has moved into the kidneys or, in men, the prostate gland. Other signs of UTIs are urine that is cloudy, dark, and/or foul smelling, and urine that contains blood.

WHAT CAUSES UTI’S?

There are a number of ways that UTIs occur, including poor hygiene, impaired immune function, the overuse of antibiotics, the use of spermicides, and unprotected sex, but the most common cause, accounting for approximately 90 percent of all cases, is the spread of E. coli bacteria from the intestinal tract to the urinary tract. (The E. coli referred to here is not to be confused with E. coli 0157; H7, which is associated with contaminated food and, if left untreated, can be fatal.) As long as E. coli remains in the intestines (GI tract) where it belongs, it acts as “friendly” bacteria and does not cause problems. In fact, in the GI tract E. coli bacteria aid digestion and help in the production of certain vitamins, such as vitamin K and folic acid. But even normal E. coli do not belong in the bladder and urinary tract; in these areas it multiplies and becomes an undesirable infection. Once the bacteria migrate to the urinary tract, UT’Is and their associated symptoms can quickly follow.

E. Coli bacteria are especially bothersome bugs because they are not carried out of the body with the normal down-flow of urine from the kidneys into the bladder and thence beyond. The “cell walls” of each E. coli are covered with tiny fingerlike projections which are tipped with glycoproteins called Lectins. Lectins have the unfortunate capability of “sticking” to the inside walls of our urinary tract, which make them very difficult to be washed out by urination. They can even work their way upward (like “Spiderman”) in some cases reaching as far as the kidneys.

What is the treatment for UTIs & how can I prevent them?

Routine medical treatment of bladder and kidney infections involves antibiotics and antimicrobials. However, in over 90% of bladder and kidney infections, antibiotics are actually an inferior treatment choice. The treatment of choice for the initial treatment of a UTI, along with a great way to help prevent a UTI, is a naturally occurring simple sugar, closely related to glucose, called D-mannose.

For the smaller number of bladder infections which are not caused by E. coli, but by some other micro-organism, it is advisable to check with your doctor for an antibiotic prescription if the infections is not substantially better or completely gone in 24-48 hours.

Why D-Mannose?

The answer is found in the interaction between D-mannose and the bacterium found in over 90% of all bladder infections, Escherichia coli (“E. coli”). Unfortunately for the E. coli, D-mannose “sticks” to E. coli structures even better than E. coli structures “stick” to human cells. When we take a large quantity of D-mannose, almost all of it spills into the urine through our kidneys, literally “coating” any E.coli present so they can no longer “stick” to the inside walls of the bladder and urinary tract. The E. coli are literally rinsed away with normal urination!

Why is “rinsing away” E. coli with D-mannose superior to killing them with antibiotics and anti-microbials? When an antibiotic is taken, it usually kills unwanted micro-organisms, but it also wipes out many “friendly” micro-organisms that live in our gut. Every woman is familiar with “yeast infections” that follow antibiotic use, as the “friendly bacteria” are killed off along with the “bad bacteria”, leaving the antibiotic-insensitive yeast to grow “out of control”. There is no doubt that long-term or often-repeated antibiotic use can lead to major disruptions in normal body microflora, and sometimes to major disruptions in health, especially immune system function. [It's suspected that the "killer" E. coli of recent years are "mutants" caused by persistent antibiotic feeding to animals.]

By contrast, D-mannose doesn’t kill bacteria, “friendly” or “unfriendly”. D-mannose simply helps to relocate misplaced E.coli from inside of our urinary tracts to outside. (Since D-mannose is absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, it doesn’t relocate the “friendly” E. coli normally present in the colon.) D-mannose treatment of E. coli bladder and urinary tract infections is ecologically sound treatment. (The very small amounts of D-mannose metabolized by our bodies and not excreted into the urine are harmless.)

D-mannose is very safe for all ages, even for long term use, although most women (or the very occasional man) with single episodes of bladder or urinary tract infection will only need it for a few days at most. Although D-mannose is a simple sugar, very little of it is metabolized. It doesn’t interfere with blood sugar regulation, even for diabetics. It creates no disruption or imbalance in normal body microflora. It’s safe even for pregnant women and very small children. In the less than 10% of cases where an infection is caused by a bacteria other than E. coli, antibiotics can be started in plenty of time. (Many physicians will likely advise collecting a urine specimen for culture, if possible just before starting D-mannose, so that the bacteria can be identified as rapidly as possible in the few cases when D-mannose doesn’t work.)

Since D-mannose is naturally occurring, many of you may have guessed that cranberry juice (as well as pineapple juice) contain more D-mannose than most other foods. However, the amounts found in these juices are substantially less than in the 1/2 teaspoon (approximately 1 gram) adult dose, and are substantially less effective.

What is the proper dosage of D-mannose?

For an acute infection it is recommended that you take 1,000 mg (1 gm) 3-4 times a day for 3-4 days, or until your symptoms have resolved. For those who experience chronic UTI’s, you can take 1,000 mg/day as a preventative measure.