The Study
Antiviral innate immune response in non-myeloid cells is augmented by chloride ions via an increase in intracellular hypochlorous acid levels
This is like doing a science experiment in a test tube instead of on real people. It shows that salt might help stop viruses from growing in lab-grown cells, but we don't know if it would work the same way inside actual humans or animals.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Adding salt to cells makes them better at stopping viruses by creating bleach inside them.
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 55 / 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 is a lab study in cells; human effects are not tested.
- 2Salt reduced viruses by 80-86% at safe levels.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Scientific Reports
Year
2018
Authors
S. Ramalingam, B. Cai, J. Wong, M. Twomey, Rui Chen, R. Fu, Toby Boote, H. McCaughan, Samantha J. Griffiths, J. Haas
Related Content
Claims (10)
Rinsing your nose with salt water gives your nose cells what they need to make a natural germ-fighting chemical, which helps your body fight off viruses better.
Rinsing your nose with salt water gives your nose cells a special ingredient that helps them make a natural germ-fighting acid to fight off viruses.
Salt's ability to fight viruses depends on how chloride moves inside cells, not sodium. When chloride movement is blocked, salt can't stop viruses, but blocking sodium movement doesn't change salt's virus-fighting power.
When scientists block a certain enzyme in non-blood cells with a chemical called 4ABAH, it stops salt from having its virus-fighting effect, showing that this enzyme is needed to turn salt into a germ-killing substance in those cells.
Salt fights viruses by working inside your cells while the virus is copying itself, not by directly killing the virus or stopping it from entering cells.
When you get a virus, your breathing cells need a certain chemical (chloride) to make a germ-fighting acid. If there's not enough of this chemical, your body might not fight off the virus as well.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.