For the approximately one million British individuals who experience urinary tract infections (UTIs) annually, the symptoms are distressingly well-known: pain, frequent urges to urinate, and a stinging feeling during urination.
Even though antibiotics are frequently prescribed, numerous patients—more often women than men—either discover that these medications do not consistently resolve the issue or experience recurring infections shortly after.
However, experts currently think that these severe infections might be preventable and treatable in certain instances through a daily dietary supplement that costs as little as 50 pence per day.
In her recent column for the Mail on Sunday, Dr. Ellie Cannon mentioned that although she was generally doubtful about supplements, she had been swayed by positive patient feedback regarding one product known as D-mannose.
As a result, numerous readers sent messages outlining how consuming it had significantly enhanced their well-being.
Jane Ellaby, aged 75 and living close to Sheffield, battled with chronic cystitis—a urinary tract infection affecting the bladder—for many years. However, after using D-mannose, she found relief from her symptoms. Jane mentioned, “I have suggested this supplement to a few of my friends, and they too experienced favorable outcomes.”
Maureen Mathieson, who is 57 years old and hails from Ayrshire, has been using D-mannose for half a decade. She shared her experience saying, "UTIs used to plague me frequently, making my life quite unhappy—antibiotics did not help much either. Eventually, a nurse recommended I try D-mannose, and since then, it has proven highly effective."
For Elaine Leake, who is 75 years old and hails from Durham, frequent urinary tract infections—sometimes as many as six per year—led to recurring antibiotic treatments. However, after a urologist suggested D-mannose, she hasn't experienced a single bladder infection since April 2021. She shared this experience saying, "Since trying D-mannose, I haven’t had a bladder infection."


Dr. Cat Anderson, a general practitioner with expertise in women’s health, emphasizes the significant impact of this issue. She explains, "Those who have not experienced urinary tract infections often fail to grasp just how debilitating they can be. In severe cases, individuals may urinate as frequently as 50 times daily; consequently, they struggle to sleep, experience depression and fatigue, and their immunity weakens."
'Locating something such as D-mannose that genuinely makes a difference is extremely precious.'
Every year, over one million people in Britain suffer from a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), with approximately eighty percent being females. These infections can affect the bladder, urethra—the channel through which urine exits the bladder—or even the kidneys. The majority of these conditions result from bacterial invasion within the urinary system; notably, Escherichia coli accounts for as high as ninety percent of such occurrences.
D-mannose is a type of sugar molecule present in certain fruits and veggies, and it’s also available as a dietary supplement in tablet or powdered form.
The body does not absorb it; instead, it is rapidly eliminated via urine. Supporters of its usage argue that as the molecule travels through the urinary system, it attaches to harmful bacteria. This binding process ensures these pathogens are removed from the body before an infection can occur.
Dr. Anderson explains, "Imagine you're coating a sticky ball of dough with flour. Instead of attaching to the surface of your hand, which represents bladder cells, the bacteria—particularly E. coli—are more likely to adhere to the D-mannose molecules."
Nevertheless, scientific studies yield mixed opinions regarding D-mannose, and it is not an NHS-prescribed treatment.
An investigation conducted earlier this year by the NIHR determined that it doesn’t prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, a German study from 2022 featured in the journal Antibiotics revealed that among individuals suffering from acute cystitis, D-mannose yielded 'highly effective clinical outcomes.'

Dr. Anderson believes that extensive research will definitively demonstrate the benefits of the supplement. She states, "It requires significant investment for top-quality clinical trials, yet urinary tract infections do not draw funding comparable to areas such as cancer or heart disease. However, should these trials be conducted, I am certain that D-mannose would prove effective."
'Until then, nothing beats experiential proof – talking to patients and heeding what they share.'
Ased Ali, a consulting urologic surgeon at Pinderfields Hospital in West Yorkshire and a member of the medical board for Bladder Health UK, suggests that since D-mannose carries a minimal risk of adverse reactions, it could be an option worth considering for patients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections.
He mentions, "I've observed quite encouraging outcomes in actual practice."
'Considering its minimal risk, I believe it makes sense to include D-mannose as part of an overall strategy for preventing urinary tract infections.'
Certainly, this recommendation from MoS reader Sue Molt, aged 75 and hailing from Rochdale, would be endorsed. She mentioned in her letter: "I finally discovered something that addressed my issue – and I have never regretted it."
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