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The Saliva/HIV Connection
(11/27/2006) by Georgan Gregg
Have you heard that saliva (spit) kills human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)? Maybe you’ve heard the crude street expression about it: "spit on it before you sit on it," suggesting that saliva can prevent HIV infection, which leads to AIDS. While saliva *does* inhibit HIV from causing infection, don’t stop using safe(r) sex practices – there’s more to the story!
If saliva were so protective, wouldn’t the saliva present during oral sex or breastfeeding keep HIV from causing infection? No, because the average mouth has only one-fifth of a teaspoon of saliva, which isn’t enough to kill HIV from infected semen or vaginal fluids. Semen is usually more than 4 times that amount and mothers milk even more. Mothers milk and semen are also 7 times saltier than saliva. So saliva cant kill HIV because theres just too much of the saltier substances. Another problem with the saliva protection theory during oral sex is that blood (from dental work or even flossing) greatly increases the possibility that HIV could be transmitted during oral sex.
However, studies at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) suggest some promising ideas. Researchers found that the low saltiness of saliva compared to other body fluids kills blood cells that get into the mouth, including cells with HIV. They think this happens through osmosis as the blood cells suck in water from saliva and burst.
These scientists have a new explanation for how HIV causes infection. They believe that HIV inside infected blood cells is the cause – not "free" virus found outside cells. In HIV-infected people, most cell-free virus is not able to cause infection, probably because they’ve produced enough HIV-antibodies. These antibodies bind to HIV and prevent infection of other cells. UTMB say their theory would explain why HIV-infected mother’s milk and semen are very infectious, that is, because the white blood cells can’t get inside these cells to attack HIV.
UTMB researchers are working to produce an anti-HIV gel for vaginal and anal intercourse that would work similar to saliva’s protective effect. While sperm-killer nonoxynol-9 is already known to kill HIV, its use is no longer recommended because it irritates human tissue – an easy way for HIV to get inside the body. While condoms remain the best protection, anti-HIV gels might someday reduce HIV transmission when condoms aren’t used. Only 30% of sexually active Americans use condoms, while in poor countries condom use is below 10%.
UTMB scientists believe these statistics show a huge need for an anti-HIV gel. Women could use such gel with men who refuse condoms. Gay men would also benefit as condom use declines and drug-resistant HIV increases. But until such a convenient method becomes available, don’t believe the "spit on it before you sit on it" stuff; use condoms every time!
Source: www.loveandhealth.info
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