Green tea as an adjunctive therapy for treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis in women: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Different in vitro studies have reported the antimicrobial effects of green tea catechins and also their synergistic effects with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole against E. coli. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of green tea as an adjunctive therapy to standard antimicrobial treatment in women with acute uncomplicated cystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this blinded randomized trial, 70 patients were assigned to receive four 500 mg capsules of green tea or starch as placebo daily for three days along with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The presence of acute uncomplicated cystitis symptoms was recorded and urinalysis was performed. RESULTS: Women in the green tea group showed a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of cystitis symptoms and a statistically significant improvement in the urinalysis results except for hematuria after 3 days of treatment. CONCLUSION: Green tea was an effective adjunct to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to treat acute uncomplicated cystitis in women.