Dose and Use: Adults take one to three capsules
per day, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.
L-Lysine is best utilized when
taken on an empty stomach with juice or water. Do not take with l-arginine
supplements.
L-Lysine
May Help Prevent Herpes/Cold Sores Recurrence
L-Lysine is an essential amino acid needed
for growth and to help maintain nitrogen balance in the body.
(Essential amino acids cannot be made in the body and must be supplied
by the diet or supplements.)
Lysine appears to help the body absorb
and conserve calcium.1
Lysine has many functions in the body because it is incorporated into
many proteins, which are used by the body for a variety of purposes.
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. Doctors often suggest that
people take 1000–3000 mg of lysine
per day for herpes type 1 & 2 support, cold sores (which is a form
of herpes), and shingles support along with BHT
(butylated hydroxytoluene).
Lysine supplementation increases the
absorption of calcium and may reduce its excretion.2
As a result, some researchers believe that lysine may eventually be
shown to have a role in optimal health.3
Lysine works with other essential amino
acids to maintain growth, lean body mass, and the body’s store of
nitrogen.
1.
Civitelli R, Villareal DT, Agneusdei D, et al. Dietary L-lysine and
calcium metabolism in humans. Nutrition 1992;8:400–4.
2. Civitelli R, Villareal DT, Agnusdei D, et al. Dietary L-lysine and
calcium metabolism in humans. Nutrition 1992;8:400–5.
3. Flodin NW. The metabolic roles, pharmacology, and toxicology of
lysine. J Am Coll Nutr 1997;16:7–21 [review].
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. and Master Herbalist
writes in his book "Supplement Bible," For more than a decade, lysine
has been prescribed by natural healers and mainstream physicians ... (it)
helps alleviate symptoms of and may help prevent herpes/cold sores recurrence ... Lysine is available in capsules and
tablets, take 500 to 1000 mg. daily.
It would make sense to use
the lysine both "topically", as an ointment, and
"systemically" internally to effect the whole system. (It might help to take
ginkgo biloba too as ginkgo increases circulation to the
nervous system.)
Natural form of the stuff?
Lysine is an essential amino
acid: one of the 21 amino acids that make up natural proteins. About half of these 21
amino acids can be made by the human body from other amino acids and cannot be
synthesized by humans. They must be derived nutritionally from protein
intake. These are the "essential amino acids. (Incidently, corn and maize lacks lysine and if your diet is totally centered on
maize you can suffer from a condition called "pellagra"). Most
proteins are made up of a melange of most of the amino acids. As of this time I am not
aware of a source with a therapeutically useful lysine content. (One of the sources I
chased gave nutritional sources as "beans, dairy, eggs, fish,
meat..." - that is to say, high protein foods and " ... potatoes ...
" which is
interesting because ... ) I've just received some feedback that, "Potatoes are the best
natural source of lysine (with the skin on)." Nonetheless, I think that by and large
you are stuck with supplements.
Warnings Information:
- Keep L-lysine Amino-Acid Supplements / Vitamins
out of reach of children
- Do not exceed recommended dose
- If you have a bad reaction,
discontinue use immediately
- When using L-lysine Amino-Acid Supplements / Vitamins,
please inform your physician.
- If you are pregnant or
breastfeeding, consult your health care professional before using nutritional
supplements.
