Is UTI cleanse (D-mannose) safe for young children?
There has been no published study using D-mannose supplementation in pediatric subjects. The majority of the research shows D-mannose to be safe and well tolerated. One study did find slight bloating and loose stools with prolonged use of D-mannose.(Westphal V, Kjaergaard S, Davis JA, et al. Genetic and metabolic analysis of the first adult with congenital disorder of glycosylation type Ib: long-term outcome and effects of mannose supplementation. Mol Genet Metab 2001;73:77-85.) The mechanism of action of D-mannose is such that it is excreted in urine along with the specific E-coli strains it binds too. Theoretically, this makes D-mannose a safe and effective way of controlling UTI’s, but there is limited safety data available, especially in young children.
