US Medical Publications Need Better Research On D-Mannose

Insufficient Focus on Dietary Supplements

Is D-mannose safe for long-term use? Authors of articles in US medical publications often overlook the science and safety of dietary supplements. Several online sources, including WebMD, suggest that there isn’t enough research to support D-mannose for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs). We disagree.

We’ve documented numerous studies published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the past 22 years in the “Medical Research” tab on this blog. Naturopathic and integrative medicine doctors have been prescribing D-Mannose for UTIs for years.

The main argument against its widespread use by the US medical establishment is the uncertainty about its long-term effects. However, recent research provides clarity. This month a team of scientific experts published a review in Biomedical Reports that debunks this theory and more.

D-Mannose Is Safe For Long-Term Use

A review published in Biomedical Reports in August 2022 debunks the theory that the long-term use of D-mannose is unsafe. The review includes research on D-mannose spanning 32 years: “In this paper, we systematically reviewed the published data on the effect of D-mannose, alone or in association with other compounds, on the typical symptoms of UTI/cystitis. PubMed/Medline and EMBASE databases were searched, from 1990 to January 2022.”

Key Findings from the Review

First, D-Mannose is a natural product that our bodies produce.  “D-mannose is a monosaccharide naturally produced by the body from glucose. It is present in the body cells and in some foods.” 

As the illustration shows, D-Mannose is chemically identical to glucose.

Second, long-term use of D-mannose does not affect human metabolism. “At least 90% of ingested D-mannose is absorbed in the upper part of the intestine. Its peculiarity is that despite it being a simple molecule, this sugar is not metabolized by the organism. Consequently, it is not stored in the liver or other organs, but it is excreted unconverted into the urine via the kidneys. About 60 min after ingestion, it arrives unchanged in the urinary tract. D-mannose also has no effect on human metabolism after long-term use.”

Third, D-Mannose does not negatively impact any other part of our system. “The anti-adhesive effect of D-mannose cannot be considered as a pharmacological effect: it interacts with bacterial constituents to promote (E Coli) washing out, but inducing neither a direct and measurable response in the microorganism, nor in the human beings.  All these characteristics underline the fact that the long term use of D-mannose is safe.”

D-Mannose Does Not Interfere With Antibiotics

Another key finding is that D-Mannose can be taken with antibiotics for faster results.

“D-mannose… inhibits the adhesion of bacteria to the urothelium (bladder lining). Binding free D-mannose, bacteria are blocked in the urine and then eliminated by the urinary tract… This effect is also present in the case of concurrent antibiotic therapy. In fact, D-mannose has no bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal activity and does not modify the bacterial cell, thus it does not interfere with the action of antibiotics.”

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D-Mannose: From Preventative to Symptom Relief

D-Mannose has been documented as a treatment for long-term recurring UTIs. This review also verifies its use for “cystitis symptoms,” the medical term for “inflammation of the bladder,” which causes symptoms like burning when urinating and frequent urges to urinate.

D-Mannose Protectd Against Recurring UTIs

Forty percent of patients who take antibiotics for a UTI return to their doctor with another UTI within a month. Scientists have proven that regular use of D-Mannose continues to flush out any invading bacteria in the bladder, acting as a defense against new UTIs. This makes D-Mannose a viable alternative to antibiotics.

D-Mannose Delivers Fast Relief from UTI Symptoms

Until now, the D-Mannose research did not address how D-Mannose works to relieve the symptoms of cystitis.

This review has now confirmed that D-Mannose also delivers fast relief: “All studies reported that symptoms decreased after treatment with D-mannose” and “The fact that D-mannose interacts with bacteria to promote UPEC (E. Coli bacteria) excretion may explain a faster resolution of (cystitis) symptoms.”