Alcohol Makes Mouth Cells Susceptible to HIV Infection

[The Straight Story]

Uganda : Alcohol Makes Mouth Cells Susceptible to HIV Infection

OPINION
March 15, 2006
Posted to the web March 15, 2006

Oscar Bamuhigire
Kampala

A couple of years ago, three of my colleagues at Namasagali University died of hiv/AIDS. They had used condoms most of the time, but drunk a lot of alcohol.

It is then that I knew there was a link between alcoholism and HIV/AIDS. Recent scientific findings at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) revealed that beer might cause the cells that line your mouth to become more vulnerable to HIV.

Previous studies had always focused on how alcohol made people more vulnerable to irresponsible sexual behaviour, but these findings throw new light on the role of alcohol in facilitating the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The study, titled Ethanol Stimulation of HIV Infection of Oral Epithelial Cells, reports that exposure to four percent alcohol, a common amount for most beers, can weaken mouth cells.

The report was published recently in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200603150428.html

Anyone else ever hear of this???

[greymattermom]

1. alcohol and aids

Alcohol also worsens viral entry into the brain, increasing the likelihood of AIDS dementia.

[WiseButAngrySara]

2. You know what? So does brushing your teeth! n/t

[The Straight Story]

3. I'll stick with the beer :) (nt)

[WiseButAngrySara]

4. Heh-heh! n/t