Not yet recruitingEARLY_PHASE1INTERVENTIONAL

Vitamin C and Hiprex in rUTI

This is an early-stage study designed to explore if Vitamin C can boost the effectiveness of a medicine called Methenamine Hippurate (also known as Hiprex®). Hiprex is used to help prevent recurring urinary tract infections (rUTIs), which are common bladder infections. The study aims to see if combining Vitamin C with Hiprex makes it even better at stopping these infections in women who experience them frequently. Researchers are trying to understand the best way to prevent these uncomfortable and often painful infections, and this study will help determine if this combination is a promising path to investigate further.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Sponsor

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jan 2027

Estimated completion

01 Jan 2028

Urinary Tract Infections

What is this study about?

Imagine getting bladder infections (urinary tract infections or UTIs) over and over again. It can be really uncomfortable and frustrating. This study is for women who experience these frequent infections, known as recurrent UTIs or rUTIs.

Researchers are looking into whether a common vitamin, Vitamin C, could help a medicine called Hiprex® work better. Hiprex is already used to stop UTIs from coming back. The study wants to see if adding Vitamin C to Hiprex makes it more effective. Think of it like a team – we want to know if adding a new player (Vitamin C) makes the team (Hiprex) even stronger at preventing those tricky infections.

This is an early 'proof of concept' study. This means it's one of the first steps to see if this idea is even possible and worth exploring further in bigger studies. If the results are positive, it could lead to new ways to prevent UTIs and improve the lives of women who suffer from them regularly.

Key takeaways

This study is for women who get frequent bladder infections.
It's testing if Vitamin C helps a medicine called Hiprex® prevent UTIs.
It's an early study to see if this idea is promising.
Participation involves taking medication and regular check-ups.
You can stop participating at any time.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for women aged 18 or older who get frequent bladder infections (at least two in six months or three in a year). You'll need to be happy to follow the study rules and have talked with your doctor about preventing UTIs.

You can't join if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you're a man. You also can't take part if you have certain health conditions like severe kidney problems, gout, or if you're already taking other supplements that affect urine acidity, like Vitamin C or cranberry, or if you have a bladder catheter. We'll also need you to have a working email for sending in some results and, if you could get pregnant, to use effective birth control during the study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you female and over 18?
Do you get frequent bladder infections?
Are you happy to use birth control if you could get pregnant?
Do you have a working email address?
Are you NOT pregnant or breastfeeding?
Have you discussed preventative measures for UTIs with your doctor?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll either receive Hiprex® on its own or Hiprex® combined with Vitamin C. The study will be run from a single medical centre. We'll ask you to regularly check your urine pH (a measure of acidity) and send these results by email. You'll have check-ups with the study team. The full duration of your involvement will be explained in detail by the study team, including how many visits you'll have and how often you'll need to take the study medicines.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of joining this study is that it might help reduce your recurrent bladder infections. However, there's no guarantee the treatment will work for you, as this is an early-stage study. Hiprex and Vitamin C are generally safe, but like all medicines, they can have side effects. These will be fully explained to you before you agree to take part. You can leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Verified postcode
Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is a 'recurrent' UTI?

A recurrent UTI means you've had two or more bladder infections in six months, or three or more in a year.

What is Hiprex®?

Hiprex® is a medicine often prescribed to help prevent bladder infections from coming back.

Why are you looking at Vitamin C?

Researchers want to see if Vitamin C can make Hiprex® work even better to stop recurrent bladder infections.

Will I know if I'm getting Vitamin C or not?

This will be explained to you in detail by the study team. Often, in studies like this, you might not know which treatment you are getting until the end.

What if I get a UTI during the study?

The study team will provide clear instructions on what to do if you think you have a UTI during your participation.

How to find out more

Aviva Ogbolosingha

aviva.ogbolosingha@uhnm.nhs.uk 01782 675380 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.