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How D-Mannose Works
Similar in structure to glucose, D-mannose is a naturally occurring sugar that is found in a number of fruits, including apples, blueberries, and cranberries. In fact, the D-mannose content in cranberries is the main reason why cranberry juice is often recommended for minor UTIs. D-mannose for UTI pain relief and treatment is ideal because it is produced by the body in the urinary tract lining and is available in health food stores as a supplement in powder and capsule form.

The reason why D-mannose is so successful at reversing and preventing UTIs caused by E. coli is because of how it attracts E. coli and causes it to bind to itself. For E. coli to cause UTIs, the bacteria, once they enters into the urinary tract, must be able attach themselves to the lining of the urinary tract. If they are not able to do this, then they simply get eliminated from the body during urination.

E.coli accomplishing this task using tiny, hair-like projections known as fimbria that line their cell walls. At the tips of fimbria are substances called lectins. These lectins are programmed to attach themselves and bind to mannose molecules. Since mannose is produced inside the urinary tract lining, mannose naturally occurs along the lining, enabling E. coli to secure their foothold and begin the process of infection.

The use of D-mannose for UTI pain relief and prevention takes advantage of these same mechanisms of action. Once ingested, D-mannose, unlike other sugars, is not readily converted to glycogen and stored in the liver. Instead, it enters directly into the bloodstream largely unchanged and passes intact through the kidneys, to circulate in the urine. There, D-mannose molecules not only attract free-floating E. coli, but they also cause most of the E. coli already sticking to the urinary lining to detach themselves and then reattach themselves to the D-mannose in the urine, after which the bacteria are quickly flushed away during urination. What little E. coli that are left still sticking to the urinary tract are then easily dealt with by white blood cells and other immune cells.

Because of D-mannose molecules’ ability to circulate throughout the urinary tract, they can even help eliminate E. coli attached to the prostate gland. Best of all, not only is D-mannose completely free of adverse side effects, because it is not metabolized in the body like other sugars, it is safe for people who are diabetic or who suffer from high blood sugar, and it also does not cause weight gain, since the body does not store it.

D-mannose typically eliminates UTIs caused by E. coli in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Moreover, D-mannose supplements can also be taken for UTI prevention, a benefit that antibiotic drugs cannot provide.

The typical dose of D-mannose for UTI treatment is 500 mg (capsule form) or one-half to one teaspoon (powder) taken in a glass of water or juice every two to three hours for five days. UTI symptoms should significantly diminish within the first 48 hours, but an additional few days’ worth of supplementation is advised to ensure best results. For UTI prevention, a daily dose of 500 mg or one-half teaspoon twice a day is advised, and can be safely consumed indefinitely.