Saliva prevents flu

When food digestion begins, saliva contains anti-pathogenous proteins that form a defense against infection. The age of a person has a certain effect on the amount of glycoprotein present in saliva.

According to a new study published in the journal Proteome (China), some proteins in the saliva of the elderly are able to prevent flu-causing factors.

Chinese researchers analyzed saliva samples of 180 men and women of different ages and found that glycoproteins in saliva in people 65 years of age and older have the ability to prevent viruses from causing influenza. .

Researcher Zheng Li and colleagues said the findings help to understand why older people are less affected by new strains of avian and swine flu than young people.

When food digestion begins, saliva contains anti-pathogenous proteins that form a defense against infection. The age of a person has a certain effect on the amount of glycoprotein present in saliva. This finding may help improve understanding, how to prevent and diagnose a number of age-related diseases.