UTIs are a common infection, and can lead to serious problems if left untreated. But what if we told you that there is a natural way of preventing UTIs? Armé™️ is an all-natural supplement which contains D-Mannose and Aronia polyphenols. These two ingredients have been clinically proven to combat UTIs by inhibiting E. coli from adhering to the bladder wall, thus reducing the risk of developing a UTI. With this knowledge in hand, armé™️ has become a favorite supplement for maintaining good urinary health!
What is D-Mannose?
D-mannose is a naturally occurring sugar. Studies have shown that D-Mannose seems to have a special affinity for E. coli, and attaches itself to the bacteria as soon as it enters the urinary tract. This prevents the bacteria from sticking to bladder walls and causing an infection. Although many different types of sugars can attach themselves to E. coli, D-Mannose seems to be the only one that can attach itself on the receptor sites on the bacteria’s surface.
D-Mannose has been used as a treatment for UTIs for over 50 years, but has only recently gained the attention of the scientific community. Research has shown that D-mannose can reduce bladder inflammation, pain and burning sensation during urination in women with UTIs (1). It has also been found to be effective against both E coli and Staphylococcus (2), (3).
D-Mannose is found in many plants and fruits, such as grapes, peaches, cranberries and apples. However, supplementing with pure D-mannose has been proven to be more effective than taking it through food.
Does D-Mannose raise blood sugar?
D-mannose is not metabolized by the body, which means it does not raise blood sugar. It passes through your system within 24 hours after ingestion (unlike glucose which takes 48 hours). This ensures that you won’t experience any fluctuations in energy levels due to increased insulin levels after taking D-mannose.
Is D-Mannose safe to take if I am diabetic?
Yes, D-mannose is safe to take if you are a diabetic. As mentioned earlier, pure D-mannose does not raise blood sugar levels and will not interfere with your medication. However, as with any supplement, please talk to your doctor before taking D-mannose if you have been prescribed medication for your diabetes.
Does D-Mannose replace my prescription antibiotics?
No. D-mannose does not treat infections caused by a virus or bacteria other than E. coli, and should therefore only be used in conjunction with prescription antibiotics when you have a UTI. In fact, the specific polyphenols in armé™️ plus D-mannose work synergistically to enhance the effectiveness of prescription antibiotics used to treat a UTI, without compromising their activity.(4,5)
Aronia and UTIs
Aronia is a small fruit-bearing shrub of the rose family. Aronia has been shown to be particularly effective against UTIs because it contains compounds which are potent inhibitors of E coli (6,7).
Aronia and proanthocyanins – a compound found in Aronia – have been shown to stop E coli from adhering to bladder walls (8). In addition, they protect the cells of the bladder from invasion by potentially harmful bacteria. (9), (10).
Aronia is the richest source of natural anthocyanin and proanthocyanin polyphenols.
Proanthocyanidins
Prior et al. reported the proanthocyanidin content of aronia and determined that they are catechin sub-units with B-type linkages. Proanthocyanidin content of aronia berry, currants, gooseberries, and elderberries were quantified by Wu et al. via normal-phase HPLC. Aronia berries were found to contain 663.7 mg/100 g FW of total proanthocyanidins. This was the highest content of proanthocyanidins among the berries tested, and about 4 times higher than the next highest berry, black currant.(11,12)
How does armé™️ work?
The crucial factor for the onset of urinary tract infections is bacterial adhesion to the cell surface. D-Mannose and proanthocyanidins work by inhibiting bacterial adherence to urothelial cells. Bacteria such as E. coli, contain fimbriae which allow them to attach to receptors on the epithelium of the urinary tract. Once attached, they multiply, colonize and create a biofilm. D-mannose is similar in structure to the binding site of Type 1 fimbriae and polyphenols occupy binding sites of P-fimbriae. When these receptor sites are saturated, bacteria are not able to attach, are trapped in the urine flow and consequently eliminated from the urinary tract.(13-15)
In summary, armé™️ is a natural supplement formulated by a physician containing optimized levels of both polyphenols and D-Mannose that can be your ally in the fight against UTIs.
References:
1) Kranjčec B, et al – D-mannose powder for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections in women: a randomized clinical trial. World J Urol. 2014 Feb;32(1):79-84.
2) Domenici L, et al – D-mannose: a promising support for acute urinary tract infections in women. A pilot study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016 Jul;20(13):2920-5.
3) Ofek I, et al – Mannose-specific adherence of Escherichia coli freshly excreted in the urine of patients with urinary tract infections, and of isolates subcultured from the infected urine. Infect Immun 1981;34:708-11.
4) Rees WD, et al. – Uropathogenic Escherichia coli adherence to uroepithelial bladder cells: role of mannose-specific P fimbriae in initial interaction and attachment during infection.
5) Leclercq R et al. – The role of proanthocyanidins derived from grape seeds in the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections in women.
6) Dorneanu R et al. – Synergic Benefits of Aronia Melanocarpa Anthocyanin-Rich Extracts and Antibiotics Used for Urinary Tract Infections. FARMACIA, 2017, Vol. 65
7) Handeland M et al. -Black chokeberry juice (Aronia melanocarpa) reduces incidences of urinary tract infection among nursing home residents in the long term–a pilot study. Res. 2014 Jun;34(6):518-25. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2014.05.005. Epub 2014 Jun 3.
8) Moreno A, et al. – Inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli adherence to epithelial cells and biofilm formation by phenolic compounds from Aronia melanocarpa.
9) Yamamoto T, et al. – Procyanidin inhibits the invasion of uropathogenic Escherichia coli into human bladder cells by disrupting interactions between bacterial outer membrane proteins and host cytoskeleton via integrin-binding RGD peptides.
10) Moreno A et al. – The inhibitory effect of strawberry and Aronia melanocarpa fruit on biofilm formation by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
11) Prior, R.L.; Gu, L. Occurrence and biological significance of proanthocyanidins in the American diet. Phytochemistry. 2005, 66, 2264–2280.
12) Wu X et al. – Characterization of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in some cultivars of Ribes, Aronia, and Sambucus and their antioxidant capacity J. Agric. Food Chem. 2004, 52(26), 7846–7856.
13) Gupta A, et al. – Inhibition of adherence of multi drug resistant E.coli by proanthocyanidin. Urol Res 2012 (40) pp 143-150
14) Venegas MF, et al. Binding of type 1-piliated Escherichia coli to vaginal mucus. Infect Immun 1995;63:416-22.
15) Schaeffer AJ, et al. – Mannose-sensitive adherence of Escherichia coli to epithelial cells from women with recurrent urinary tract infections. J Urol 1984;131:906-10.
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