The Study
Metal complexes of bovine lactoferrin inhibit in vitro replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2
This is like doing a science experiment in a test tube instead of a real person. It shows that certain milk proteins might block herpes viruses in lab cells, but we don't know if it would work in actual humans or animals.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested a protein from cow milk with added metals to see if it could stop cold sores viruses from infecting cells.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 53 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1This was only tested in lab cells, not in humans.
- 2The protein with iron or manganese worked best, reducing virus infection by half at low amounts (5.2 to 31 micrograms per ml).
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Biometals
Year
1998
Authors
M. Marchetti, S. Pisani, G. Antonini, P. Valenti, L. Seganti, N. Orsi
Related Content
Claims (3)
When certain metals are mixed with citrate, they don't do much to stop viruses, so scientists think lactoferrin (a protein with metals) fights viruses in a different way than just bringing metals into cells.
A protein from cow's milk, when loaded with certain minerals, can stop herpes viruses from infecting cells in a lab. It works better with more of the protein, and the amounts needed are safe for the cells.
Certain forms of a protein from cow's milk are better at stopping herpes viruses from infecting cells, especially during the first steps of infection.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.