What is Mannose Sugar?

D-mannose, or mannose sugar, is a naturally occurring sugar found in a range of common plants, including cranberry and aloe vera. Humans can't metabolize mannose, and it has no effect on blood-sugar levels, but it has been found to be nearly as effective as antibiotics in curing urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Treatment

• Because we cannot metabolize mannose, when it is ingested in capsule or powder form it directly enters the blood stream and is filtered by the kidneys into the bladder. It is believed that mannose contains properties that attract strains of E coli bacteria, which causes most UTIs. When the sugar is expelled in urine, it flushes out the bacteria as well.

Effects

• Mannose is hailed by proponents of homeopathic medicine because it offers a natural alternative to antibiotic treatments, which have been known to cause as much pain as the UTIs for which they are prescribed. Mannose has no reported side effects, though as of 2010 research is scant.

Research

• As of 2010 only a limited number of small studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of mannose in treating UTIs, and it is still relegated to the realm of homeopathic treatment. This is due, in part, to the long record of success of antibiotics in treating the condition and the relatively rare occurrence of negative side effects. A study by urologist Dr. Michael Blue of Oklahoma found that mannose relieved bladder pain in 80 percent of patients, but he acknowledged that most of the 60 participants were experiencing "simple, uncomplicated UTIs."