The Effects of the Amino Acid Lysine

Lysine is one of 20 essential amino acids used by the body to grow and repair tissue. It cannot be stored and must be constantly replenished. When the body does not get enough lysine, the B Vitamin niacin becomes depleted and the disease of pellagra can result. Most people get sufficient lysine by eating proteins such as meat, cheese, nuts, eggs and soybeans. Those at most risk of lysine deficiency are vegetarians on macrobiotic diets and some athletes who deplete their lysine stores. Lysine stops the herpes virus from spreading and is now used to treat herpes, shingles and cold sores.

Function

• Lysine, also known as L-lysine or amino acid K, is an essential amino acid, a building block for proteins, promoting muscle growth and tissue repair. It also helps the body absorb calcium, produce hormones, enzymes and disease-fighting antibodies.

Lysine Deficiency

• The body cannot store or make lysine, so it must be replenished often. Within 6 to 8 weeks of eating a diet without enough lysine, the amino acid imbalance causes a deficiency in the B Vitamin niacin and symptoms develop such as bloodshot eyes, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, anemia and kidney stones.

Pellagra

• Pellagra is a potentially fatal disease that was a mystery for centuries. Kumaravel Rajakumar, MD describes it: "Typically, classic pellagra is defined by the 3 Ds: dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia." In the 1930s, Dr. Joseph Goldberger proved that pellagra was caused by nutritional deficiency and corn was usually the culprit.

  Diets based on maize or cornmeal can cause lysine and niacin deficiencies unless the corn meal is supplemented with nuts, fish or beans or cooked with alkaline solution of lime to release the niacin, as is done when preparing tortillas in Latin America.

Herpes

• Two amino acids, lysine and arginine, work together to build muscle tissue and are stored in the same special area in the cells. However, arginine is the only protein used by the body when it creates new herpes virus cells. When the cell storage areas are full of lysine, the arginine is blocked out, and the herpes virus lacks the building blocks to multiply.

Potential

• Lysine also shows promising results in treating pain when used alone or together with anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or Advil.

Considerations

• Some doctors recommend 10 grams of lysine a day during a herpes outbreak. Such a high dose can cause nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Dividing the dosage over the course of the day will help minimize side effects. Do not take lysine supplements with milk.

  Pregnant or breastfeeding women or people who have high cholesterol or heart disease should consult their healthcare provider before taking lysine supplements.
  Children under two years of age should not take lysine supplements unless supervised by a pediatrician. Very large doses of lysine, 10 to 30 grams per day can raise the toxicity of certain antibiotics, including gentamicin, neomycin and streptomycin.