D-mannose for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection among women: a randomized clinical trial

Journal article

Importance Recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common debilitating condition in women, with limited prophylactic options. d-Mannose has shown promise in trials based in secondary care, but effectiveness in placebo-controlled studies and community settings has not been established.

Objective To determine whether d-mannose taken for 6 months reduces the proportion of women with recurrent UTI experiencing a medically attended UTI.

Design, Setting, and Participants This 2-group, double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial took place across 99 primary care centers in the UK. Participants were recruited between March 28, 2019, and January 31, 2020, with 6 months of follow-up. Participants were female, 18 years or older, living in the community, and had evidence in their primary care record of consultations for at least 2 UTIs in the preceding 6 months or 3 UTIs in 12 months. Invitation to participate was made by their primary care center. A total of 7591 participants were approached, 830 responded, and 232 were ineligible or did not proceed to randomization. Statistical analysis was reported in December 2022.

Intervention Two grams daily of d-mannose powder or matched volume of placebo powder.

Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome measure was the proportion of women experiencing at least 1 further episode of clinically suspected UTI for which they contacted ambulatory care within 6 months of study entry. Secondary outcomes included symptom duration, antibiotic use, time to next medically attended UTI, number of suspected UTIs, and UTI-related hospital admissions.

Results Of 598 women eligible (mean [range] age, 58 [18-93] years), 303 were randomized to d-mannose (50.7%) and 295 to placebo (49.3%). Primary outcome data were available for 583 participants (97.5%). The proportion contacting ambulatory care with a clinically suspected UTI was 150 of 294 (51.0%) in the d-mannose group and 161 of 289 (55.7%) in the placebo group (risk difference, −5%; 95% CI, −13% to 3%; P = .26). Estimates were similar in per protocol analyses, imputation analyses, and preplanned subgroups. There were no statistically significant differences in any secondary outcome measures.

Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, daily d-mannose did not reduce the proportion of women with recurrent UTI in primary care who experienced a subsequent clinically suspected UTI. d-Mannose should not be recommended for prophylaxis in this patient group.

Trial Registration isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN13283516

Authors: Hayward, G; Mort, S; Hay, AD; Moore, M; Thomas, NPB

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Medical Association
• Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine
• Volume: 184
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 619-628
• Publication date: 2024-04-08
• Acceptance date: 2023-12-12
• DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.0264
• EISSN: 2168-6114
• ISSN: 2168-6106
• Language: English
• Keywords: Medicine; Urinary system; Mannose; Internal medicine; Immunology; Biochemistry