Salt helps cells fight viruses
Antiviral innate immune response in non-myeloid cells is augmented by chloride ions via an increase in intracellular hypochlorous acid levels
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Ordinary non-immune cells can produce bleach-like substances
Previously thought only specialized immune cells could produce hypochlorous acid
Practical Takeaways
Understand that chloride (not just sodium) is important for cellular immunity
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Ordinary non-immune cells can produce bleach-like substances
Previously thought only specialized immune cells could produce hypochlorous acid
Practical Takeaways
Understand that chloride (not just sodium) is important for cellular immunity
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.