A new study suggests that drinking cranberry juice may offer some protection

Researchers at St. Francis College in New York found the use of commercially available cranberry juice cocktail on intestinal viruses resulted in viral reductions below detectable infection levels.

"Our studies suggest a cranberry juice-induced antiviral effect upon selected intestinal animal viral disease-producing agents," said Patrice Cohen.

Human Trials Need to Be Performed

Additional studies in the form of human trials need to be performed to determine any beneficial effects of cranberry juice consumption as a means to help reduce the incidence of viral intestinal disease.

The study, funded by the Cranberry Institute and the Wisconsin Cranberry Board, Inc., was done in collaboration with Dr. Robert Gordon, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

The findings were presented Monday at the 105th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.