Lysine
Lysine is one of eight essential amino acids. The essential amino acids are the building blocks of all protein.
The Essential amino acids including Lysine cannot be synthesized by the body and can only obtain through your diet, or by taking a lysine supplement.
Why Do People Use L-Lysine?
The primary use of Lysine has been to prevent cold sores.
Lysine has been scientifically proven to retard the growth and replication of the herpes simplex virus, responsible for cold sores and genital herpes. Lysine helps to reduce the frequency of outbreaks, and by healing the infection more rapidly.
Lysine works to repressing the metabolism of L-Arginine an amino acid essential for the herpes virus to replicate and become active.
Combining Lysine with Vitamin C, Bioflavonoids and Zinc, is thought to increase the effectiveness of lysine in the treatment of cold sores and the herpes virus.
Lysine has been use to support the Cardiovascular System. Lysine is the precursor to the amino acid Carnitine, which provides energy to the cardiovascular system. Lysine has also been shown to support artery wall healing and strengthening.
Lysine helps the body to detoxify lead. Lysine has demonstrated the ability to bind with lead and help excrete it from the body.
Collagen Formation; Lysine along with the nutrients, iron and vitamin C, are required for collagen synthesis.
A lesser know role of lysine has been in calcium absorption.
Lysine supplementation increases the absorption of calcium and may reduce its excretion.4 As a result; some researchers believe that lysine may eventually be shown to have a role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.5
Who is likely to be Deficient?
Most people, including vegans (vegetarians who also avoid dairy and eggs), consume adequate amounts of lysine. However, vegans whose diets contain large amounts of grains and only minimal amounts of beans could become deficient in lysine. Athletes involved in frequent vigorous exercise have increased need for essential amino acids, although most diets meet these increased needs. The essential amino acid requirements of burn patients may exceed the amount of lysine in the diet.
Sources of L-Lysine
Lysine rich food sources include vegetables, fish, chicken, cheese milk, brewers yeast, and legumes.
Therapeutic Dosage Levels
Most people do not require lysine supplementation. Nutritionists often suggest that people with recurrent herpes simplex infections take 1,000 of lysine per day.
Doses up to 3000mg per day can be taken short term only during a herpes outbreak.
Side Effects of L-Lysine
At supplemental amounts, no consistent problems have been reported in humans, though abdominal cramps and transient diarrhea have occasionally been reported at very high (15–40 grams per day) intakes.3
In animals, high amounts of lysine have been linked to increased risk of gallstones1 and elevated cholesterol.2
Long-term use of lysine above 300mg per day can inhibit L-Arganine levels.
Possible Drug Interactions
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with lysine.
Sources:
1. Kritchevsky D, Weber MM, Klurfeld DM. Gallstone formation in hamsters: influence of specific amino acids. Nutr Rep Int 1984;29:117.
2. Leszczynski DE, Kummerow FA. Excess dietary lysine induces hypercholesterolemia in chickens. Experientia 1982;38:266–7.
3. Flodin NW. The metabolic roles, pharmacology, and toxicology of lysine. J Am Coll Nutr 1997;16:7–21 [review].
4. Civitelli R, Villareal DT, Agnusdei D, et al. Dietary L-lysine and calcium metabolism in humans. Nutrition 1992;8:400–5.
5. Flodin NW. The metabolic roles, pharmacology, and toxicology of lysine. J Am Coll Nutr 1997;16:7–21 [review].
