L-Lysine HCl

What is L-Lysine?

NutritonBulk.com L-Lysine HCl (or commonly just Lysine) is an essential amino acid, meaning it is necessary for human health but it cannot be made by the body. As such, we need to get Lysine from food or supplementation. Lysine is one of the building blocks of, and a precursor to, many proteins.

What does L-Lysine do?

L-Lysine may protect against and treat cold sores, may reduce anxiety, may improve calcium absorption, and may promote wound healing by helping to create collagen.* Lysine may also be benefical for cats as a simple way to treat the effects of FHV-1, the feline herpes virus and it's oft-associated conjunctivitis.

What's the recommended dosage?

1/3 tsp per dosage (once or twice per day), or as directed by your physician.

What about side effects?

L-Lysine is considered safe to consume and has no known adverse side effects.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ____________________________________________________________________________

Benefits of L-Lysine in more detail:

• L-Lysine may protect against and treat cold sores. (1)

Lysine is considered a potential remedy for the treatment of cold sores. Cold sores are a common recurrent problem caused by variants of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which lies dormant in nervous tissue until relapse is triggered by stress or immune dysfunction.

The balance of L-Lysine and L-Arginine in the body is thought to affect HSV expression. Arginine-rich proteins are required for the reproduction of HSV, whereas Lysine competitively inhibits their synthesis thereby potentially assisting in the fight against HSV flare-ups and further issues.

Doses in excess of 3g/day appear to improve peoples subjective experience with the disease (HSV) and said doses of up to 3g/day are thought to be harmless as oral lysine toxicity has not occurred in humans.

• L-Lysine may reduce anxiety. (2)

Recent studies in animals have identified two amino acids, L-Lysine and L-Arginine, that may influence neurotransmitters involved in stress and anxiety. L-Lysine has been shown to act as a partial serotonin receptor 4 (5-HT₄) antagonist, decreasing the brain-gut response to stress as well as decreasing blood cortisol levels.

Based on two recent clinical trials in humans, it seems that the combination of L-Lysine + L-Arginine effectively reduces anxiety scores with no reported side effects. Amino acid supplements may also help in balancing cortisol levels triggered by stress in both healthy individuals and those with high trait anxiety.

• L-Lysine may improve calcium absorption. (3)

Calcium deficiency contributes to age-related bone loss; consequently, any preventive approach to osteoporosis should include a dietary calcium adjustment or additional supplementation. Studies in animals have shown that dietary supplements with certain amino acids, particularly L-Lysine, can increase calcium absorption.

In one study, the effects of a short-term dietary supplementation with either L-Lysine, L-Valine, or L-Tryptophan (800 mg/day) on calcium absorption were compared in 45 osteoporotic patients. L-Lysine but not L-Valine or L-Tryptophan significantly increased the intestinal absorption of the mineral.

• L-Lysine may promote wound healing by helping to create collagen. (4)

Lysine is one of the amino acids found in collagen and may help promote would healing in the human body. The amount of Lysine in collagen is only 3-4% of total amino acids, but it has an important function in the constitution of the cross-links between the molecules to build the fibrils and the fibers of collagen.

Lysine also helps produce collagen, which helps support healthy nails, skin and lips. Collagen itself is the main structural protein found in skin and connective tissues and is the most abundant protein in the body.

• L-Lysine may help alleviate symptoms of FHV-1 (feline herpes virus) in cats. (5)

One study found that oral administration of 500mg of Lysine to cats with FHV-1 was well tolerated and resulted in less severe manifestations of conjunctivitis caused by FHV-1, compared with cats that received a placebo. Lysine may also be helpful in early treatment for FHV-1 infection by lessening the severity of the disease.