Ranked by evidence
Best supplements for preventing urinary tract infections
No supplement treats an active urinary tract infection: fever, flank pain, blood in the urine, or a UTI in a man or during pregnancy needs a doctor and usually antibiotics. For prevention, cranberry is the only supplement with a moderate grade, and only in some groups. Picks are ranked by the evidence for preventing infections, not by popularity, which is why the list is short.
Picks are ranked by the strength of published evidence for this goal in otherwise healthy adults. A persistent symptom needs a clinician's evaluation, and no supplement on this list replaces treatment.
Evidence last reviewed: October 2026
Solid options
| Option | Evidence | Best for | The honest note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranberry Extract | Moderate evidence | recurrent UTIs in women | The 2023 Cochrane review of 50 studies found cranberry products cut symptomatic, culture-verified UTIs by about 30% overall, with benefit in women with recurrent UTIs, children and people after urological procedures. Choose an extract that states its PAC content, and monitor INR if you take warfarin. | View |
Popular for this goal — but the evidence says skip
- D-Mannose Limited evidence
In a placebo-controlled trial of 598 women, 2 g a day for 6 months did not reduce further UTIs (51% versus 55.7% on placebo).
- Uva Ursi Limited evidence
Tested as an antibiotic alternative it lost, with worse symptom resolution and more kidney infections, and its hydroquinone limits safe use to about a week.
- Women's Probiotic Blend Moderate evidence
The evidence for preventing UTIs conflicts, and an earlier Cochrane review found no significant benefit from poor-quality trials.
- Lingonberry Limited evidence
No trial has shown it prevents UTIs; its urinary reputation is borrowed from cranberry.
- Goldenrod Limited evidence
Its support is laboratory and animal work, and the clinical trials tested multi-herb products rather than goldenrod alone.
- Buchu Limited evidence
Reviews find essentially no clinical trials, and its oil contains pulegone, a liver toxin.
Our verdict
If you are a woman with recurrent UTIs, cranberry standardized to about 36 mg of proanthocyanidins a day, taken continuously, is the evidence-based pick. It does not help elderly care-home residents, people with bladder-emptying problems or pregnant women. Skip D-mannose, uva ursi and the urinary herbs.