June 3, 2004 – Smokers salivating at the thought of toasting a cigarette might do well to curb the urge. Israeli researchers have found that saliva plays a leading role in the formation of pharyngeal cancer in smokers.
“Our study1 shows that exposed to cigarette smoke, saliva loses its protective qualities and changes to such an extent that it destroys cells in the mouth. Cigarette smoke makes the body turn on itself, ”explains one of the researchers associated with the study, Dr.r Rafi Nagler.
In its natural state, saliva contains antioxidants, molecules that slow down the deterioration of tissues and therefore help prevent many types of diseases, including cancer. In smokers, the antioxidants in saliva interact with free radicals in tobacco. As a result of this contact, not only does saliva stop playing its role as a protective barrier, it even becomes a pro-oxidant agent that attacks cells in the mouth.
The researchers isolated cancer cells and exposed half of them to a mixture of cigarette smoke and saliva. The other half was exposed only to smoke. This is how they found that the cells in contact with the smoke-saliva mixture had deteriorated more than the others.
Diep Truong – HealthPassport.net
According to Reuters
1. Reznick, A et al. Saliva – a Pivotal Player in the Pathogenesis of Oropharyngeal Cancer, British Journal of Cancer, 2004. [Consulté le 3 juin 2004] To see the full text of the study: www.nature.com
