The Sugar that Slays Respiratory Syncytial Virus

A dietary viral terminator shows promise in an experimental study

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is hitting the nation hard. Face mask recommendations could return to Los Angeles County, and at least one major Boston hospital is running out of beds due to a huge increase in cases. In Boston, Massachusetts General for Children had more than 1,000 reported cases of RSV in the first 10 days of November. Whereas, the hospital handled 2,000 cases of RSV in October.

You can bolster your family’s immunity with a few simple measures.

One of these is the consumption of xylitol, a five-carbon sugar that actually kills oral bacteria and prevents viruses from adhering to tissues. It is a sugar substitute used by diabetics as well.

An animal study suggests that this simple sugar available over the counter could offer personal and family protection against RSV. Mice received xylitol for 14 days in their chow prior to virus challenge and for a further three days post challenge. “Significantly larger reductions in lung virus titers were observed in the mice receiving xylitol than in the controls,” the study states.

“In addition, fewer CD3(+) and CD3(+)CD8(+) lymphocytes, whose numbers reflect inflammatory status, were recruited in the mice receiving xylitol. These results indicate that dietary xylitol can ameliorate hRSV infections and reduce inflammation-associated immune responses to hRSV infection.”

Xlear makes xylitol available in many forms. This includes as chewing gum or mints, which are the best way to get the xylitol into the respiratory cavity. There is also a nasal spray that can be used with babies. In addition, cooking with xyliltol and sweetening with it is also important for children’s health and another way to get it into their oral cavity.