Green tea prevent hiv-infection?

scratchy · 19th May 2009, 09:37 PM

http://health.yahoo.com/news/afp/hea...519184133.html

Could green tea prevent hiv-infection? Well, its in the news so it must be true. Still, i have my doubts. And the idea that it could be an alternative preventative for the third world... sounds almost as irresponsible as the homeopathic b-s we've seen for some time.

oldhat · 19th May 2009, 09:45 PM

It's a reputable journal. I hope the results are true and reproducible, what a promising discovery.

Puppycow · 19th May 2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

researchers said the use of green tea EGCG in topical creams would "provide a simple and affordable prevention method" to guard against HIV transmission.

Simply drinking green tea would not render you immune to HIV.
Basically, if you can get people to protect themselves when they have sex, you can prevent HIV transmission. This method would have the same drawbacks as other protective jellies: it only works if you actually use it.

casebro · 20th May 2009, 06:59 AM

So rather than using an alcohol based hand sanitizer, washing ones hands in green tea will prevent the spread of viruss? Maybe the tea stains will cover the nicotine stains? Or, "Oh no, honey. I haven't been smoking. Those are tea stains, I'm just trying to prevent giving you some disease."

Aitch · 20th May 2009, 09:28 AM

Could green tea prevent hiv-infection?

Well, if you have a nice cup of tea rather than sex (cf Boy George), it probably would.

TraneWreck · 20th May 2009, 09:30 AM

Hey, I drink a cup of that **** a day.

NO MORE CONDOMS FOR ME!!!!

Eos of the Eons · 20th May 2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

The researchers said they determined that the green tea polyphenol, or vegetable tannin, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is capable of neutralizing a protein in sperm which serves as a vector for viral transmission during sex.

They stuck the EGCG substance in cream because they showed it can neutralize a sperm's protein if it contacts the sperm. So, drinking the tea won't do a darn thing. Good luck making sure ALL of the sperm come in contact with the cream during the "deed" too. It's kind of a tool to use with condoms, not on its own.

19th May 2009, 09:37 PM	#1
scratchy Muse Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: In the happy state of denial Posts: 607	Green tea prevent hiv-infection? http://health.yahoo.com/news/afp/hea...519184133.html Could green tea prevent hiv-infection? Well, its in the news so it must be true. Still, i have my doubts. And the idea that it could be an alternative preventative for the third world... sounds almost as irresponsible as the homeopathic b-s we've seen for some time.

19th May 2009, 09:45 PM	#2
oldhat Muse Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 997	It's a reputable journal. I hope the results are true and reproducible, what a promising discovery.
oldhat Muse Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 997	Last edited by oldhat; 19th May 2009 at 09:47 PM.

19th May 2009, 11:24 PM	#3
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,751	Quote: researchers said the use of green tea EGCG in topical creams would "provide a simple and affordable prevention method" to guard against HIV transmission. Simply drinking green tea would not render you immune to HIV. Basically, if you can get people to protect themselves when they have sex, you can prevent HIV transmission. This method would have the same drawbacks as other protective jellies: it only works if you actually use it.
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

20th May 2009, 06:59 AM	#4
casebro Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,792	So rather than using an alcohol based hand sanitizer, washing ones hands in green tea will prevent the spread of viruss? Maybe the tea stains will cover the nicotine stains? Or, "Oh no, honey. I haven't been smoking. Those are tea stains, I'm just trying to prevent giving you some disease."
casebro Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,792	__________________ Please pardon me for having ideas, not facts. Some have called me cynical, but I don't believe them. It's not how many breaths you take. It's how many times you have been breathless that counts.

20th May 2009, 09:55 AM	#7
Eos of the Eons Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Alberta Posts: 13,894	Quote: The researchers said they determined that the green tea polyphenol, or vegetable tannin, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is capable of neutralizing a protein in sperm which serves as a vector for viral transmission during sex. They stuck the EGCG substance in cream because they showed it can neutralize a sperm's protein if it contacts the sperm. So, drinking the tea won't do a darn thing. Good luck making sure ALL of the sperm come in contact with the cream during the "deed" too. It's kind of a tool to use with condoms, not on its own.
	__________________ Motion affecting a measuring device does not affect what is actually being measured, except to inaccurately measure it. the immaterial world doesn't matter, cause it ain't matter-Jeff Corey my karma ran over my dogma-vbloke The Lateral Truth: An Apostate's Bible Stories by Rebecca Bradley, read it!

20th May 2009, 09:28 AM	#5
Aitch Guest Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: StAines Posts: 2,731	Could green tea prevent hiv-infection? Well, if you have a nice cup of tea rather than sex (cf Boy George), it probably would.

20th May 2009, 09:30 AM	#6
TraneWreck Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 6,414	Hey, I drink a cup of that **** a day. NO MORE CONDOMS FOR ME!!!!