Home / Ingredients / Uva ursi / bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Evidence reviewed: 2026-10-02
Human trials do not establish uva ursi as an equivalent treatment for uncomplicated UTI; symptom benefit was absent or inferior to antibiotic therapy in reviewed trials.
In a 382-woman factorial randomized trial, uva ursi did not improve urinary-frequency symptoms or significantly reduce antibiotic use versus placebo. In a later 398-woman trial, initial uva-ursi treatment reduced antibiotic courses but failed symptom non-inferiority and had more pyelonephritis events than fosfomycin.
The clinical trials involved adult women with suspected uncomplicated urinary tract infection and used defined uva-ursi/arbutin preparations for short treatment periods. These results concern symptomatic UTI treatment strategies, not general urinary wellness.
The 398-participant trial reported greater symptom burden and eight pyelonephritis cases in the uva-ursi group versus two with fosfomycin. Uva ursi should not be presented as a proven substitute for standard UTI evaluation or treatment.
V-ITAREN lists uva ursi leaf but does not disclose the arbutin content or dose used in the reviewed trials. The product therefore cannot be assumed to reproduce the trial exposure or outcome.
Important: Ingredient-level evidence is not proof that a finished product has the same effect. Dose, form, population, duration, and formulation must match.
For informational purposes only; not individualized medical advice.