D-Mannose

Urinary tract infections have a high incidence: they manifest in one woman out of two at least once in their lifetime.

How does D-mannose work and what does it do? It simply inhibits the adhesion of Escherichia coli, the main bacteria that causes urinary infections, to uroepithelial cells. D-mannose binds the small “tentacles” present on pathogens (besides Escherichia coli even to Klebsiella, Shigella, Pseudomonas and Salmonella), preventing them from attacking bladder walls.

This sugar has an adhesive capacity on bacteria that is higher than that of bacteria towards the bladder. This allows to remove bacteria that are already anchored to mucous tissue and to attract those that have penetrated deep into it.

Mannose also prevents bacterial invasion and subsequent formation of biofilm, which protects bacteria from the attack of antibodies and antibiotics.

Moreover, D-mannose binds not only bacteria but also the toxins they produce.

Mannose can also reconstruct the protective layer of bladder mucous tissue. Indeed, it targets areas where the tissue has been consumed by inflammatory processes, toxins and mechanical microtraumas (e.g., sexual intercourse), which make it more sensitive to the aggression of microorganisms.

This is another important beneficial effect of D-mannose that does not create resistance, a factor that, instead, characterises the use of antibiotics. Moreover, a detail that must not be underestimated is that D-mannose does not modify intestinal flora, and selectively targets the bladder.