The Roles of Gut Microbiome in UTI Susceptible Women

September 29, 2026 updated by: University of Florida

Investigate the Roles of Gut Microbiome in the Differential Responses of UTI Susceptible Women to Cranberry Juice Intake

Clinical trials on cranberry juice and UTI prevention yielded both positive and negative results for unknown reason. Gut microbiome in women affect the absorption and metabolism of cranberry bioactives. The variation of gut microbiome is a probable mechanism for metabolic polymorphisms and disparity in UTI prevention in women.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The American cranberries, especially cranberry juice, have used for centuries as a folk medicine to prevent urinary tract infections (UTI), which affect 50% of women in their lifetime. Over 40 clinical trials have been conducted in the last 20 years to verify the UTI preventatively activity of cranberry juices, but the results were contradictory. About 90% of UTI are initiated by the adhesion of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) on urinary tract epithelia. It was reported that human urine after consumption of cranberry juice inhibited the adhesion of UPEC. The A-type proanthocyanidins and xyloglucans are the presumed bioactives in cranberries, however, this is unlikely because these two classes of compounds have extremely low bioavailability in human body. Preliminary research suggested that women can be either "resistant" or "susceptible" to UTI depending on the inherent anti-adhesion activity in their urine against UPEC before consuming cranberry juice. Not all but a fraction of "UTI susceptible" women had increased urinary anti-adhesion activity after consuming cranberry juices. These women are classified as "responders" and others are "non-responders". The variation of gut microbiome is a probable mechanism for metabolic polymorphisms and disparity in UTI prevention. The objective of this trials is to identify gut microbes and anti-adhesive urinary biomarkers which significantly contribute to the anti-adhesion of UPEC.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
152

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32611
        • University of Florida

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy women participants;
  • BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m2;
  • At least 110 pounds in weight

Exclusion Criteria:

  • BMI≥ 30 kg/m2;
  • Pregnancy and breast-feeding;
  • Smoking, frequent alcohol use;
  • History of any clinically important disorder that may interfere with interpretation of the results;
  • Intake of medication that might influence the outcome of the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Cranberry juice consumption

Participants deemed as responders and non-responders will be given 20-30 oz (590-885 mL) of cranberry juice daily for 3 weeks.
Other: Cranberry juice

The responders and non-responders will drink 20-30 oz of (590-885 mL) 27% cranberry juice daily for 3 weeks.
Experimental: Apple juice consumption

Participants deemed as responders and non-responders will be given 20-30 oz (590-885 mL) apple juice with matching sugar and calories daily for 3 weeks.
Other: Apple juice

The participants will drink apple juice with matching sugar content and calories for 3 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in the unrinary anti-adhesion activity of UTI susceptible women
Time Frame: Baseline up to 21 days of each intervention

Compare the statistical differences between the changes from baseline in the an-adhesion activity against uropathogenic E. coli in UTI-susceptible women after consuming the cranberry juice for 3 weeks versus after consuming the placebo juice for 3 weeks. Anti-adhesion activity in urine will be measured using a fluorescence-based microplate method. The anti-adhesion activities of urines will be expressed by its equivalence to myricetin level. The unit for urine anti-adhesion activities is µg myricetin/mg creatinine.
Baseline up to 21 days of each intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Determine the compositional differences of gut microbiome in responders and non-responders after the cranberry juice intake
Time Frame: Baseline up to 21 days of each intervention

Compare the differences in the gut microbiomes between responders and non-responders after consuming the cranberry juice for 3 weeks versus after consuming the placebo juice for 3 weeks. Human feces collected from responders and non-responders will be analyzed for microbiota composition. Relative abundance of gut microbiome at phylum level, family level, genus level, and Firmicutes over Bacteroidetes ratio will be evaluated. Genomic microbial DNA will be extracted from fecal samples using DNA isolation kits. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene (V1-3 region) of each sample will be amplified and sequenced using a barcoding system on a MiSeq sequencer. Sequence data will be analyzed using the latest version of QIIME.
Baseline up to 21 days of each intervention
Identify anti-adhesion urinary biomarkers in responders versus non-responders after the cranberry juice intake
Time Frame: Baseline upt to 21 days of each intervention

Determine the impacts of cranberry juice intake on the urinary metabolome and identify anti-adhesion urinary biomarkers in responders and non-responders after consuming the cranberry juice for 3 weeks versus after consuming the placebo juice for 3 weeks. Metabolites in urine will be detected using UHPLC-HRMS and annotated using combination of m/z and retention time. Metabolites that significantly contribute to the anti-adhesion activity of urine revealed by PLS regression analysis are the potential anti-adhesion biomarkers. A list of potential biomarkers will be generated. Structures of these biomarkers will be tentatively determined through spectral analysis and database searching. Structure of tentatively identified biomarkers will be confirmed by comparing with authentic standards.
Baseline upt to 21 days of each intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Florida

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Gary P Wang, PhD, University of Florida
  • Principal Investigator: Liwei Gu, PhD, University of Florida

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 18, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 29, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 29, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 1, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 29, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2021-09003
  • IRB202102165 (Other Identifier: UF IRB-01)
  • PRO00039868 (Other Identifier: UF UFIRST)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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