Lysine
Scientific Name(s):2,6-diaminohexanoic acid, alpha-epsilon-diaminocaproic acid
Common Name(s): Lysine
Clinical Overview
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Uses of Lysine
Lysine has been studied for the prophylaxis and treatment of herpes infections and cold sores. It also improves calcium assimilation and may be helpful in the treatment of Bell palsy. Lysine acetylsalicylate has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and to detoxify heroin.
Lysine Dosing
Lysine has been given in pure form to athletes and the elderly at daily doses from 1.5 to 3 g daily.
Contraindications
Lysine supplementation is contraindicated in patients with kidney or liver disease.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Lysine Interactions
None well documented.
Lysine Adverse Reactions
Dosages up to 4000 mg/day have been proven to be safe and free of side effects.
Toxicology
There are no reports of human toxicities.
Lysine can be found in foods such as yogurt, fish, cheese, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, pork, and other meats. 1 Lysine can also be synthesized in the laboratory. 2
History
Lysine is an essential amino acid, “essential” in human nutrition, meaning the body cannot produce it, and therefore it must be taken in either by diet or by supplementation. 2 Lysine was first isolated from casein (a milk phosphoprotein) by Drechsel in 1889. 2
Chemistry
Lysine is a hydrolytic cleavage product of protein, cleaved either by digestion or by boiling with hydrochloric acid. 2 Many forms of lysine exist, including L-lysine dihydrochloride, L-lysine monohydrochloride, calcium lysinate, lysortine (L-lysine monoorotate), L-lysine succinate, and the lysine salt of aspirin, “lysine acetylsalicylate.” 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7
Lysine Uses and Pharmacology
Amino acids are fundamental constituents of all proteins. They promote protein production, reduce catabolism, promote wound healing and act as buffers in extra- and intracellular fluids. 8
Lysine improves calcium assimilation. However, most clinical data are available on its use in the treatment of herpes infection.
Herpes infections/Cold soresAnimal data
No data.
Clinical dataOne report describes a relationship between lysine and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The amino acid arginine's composition is high in the HSV viral coding, thus, replication of the virus requires high consumption of arginine. Lysine appears to be an “antimetabolite,” acting as an analog of arginine, competing for absorption and entrance into tissue and cells. Lysine inhibits HSV replication by limiting arginine (by competing with it) during viral replication. Lysine prophylaxis was 100% effective in preventing herpetic labialis in patients suffering from frequent lesion occurrence. Treatment for recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU; acute painful oral ulcers, “canker sores”) was also evaluated in this study. Only 1 of 28 patients did not benefit from lysine therapy. Dosing was 500 mg lysine/day for prevention and 1000 mg every 6 hours upon development of prodrome in both treatments. 9
Another report in the form of an epidemiological survey (subjective response questionnaire) was mailed out, and 1543 were completed and returned. Data showed 92% of patients with cold sores, 87% of those with canker sores and 81% with genital herpes stated lysine supplementation was effective. Twelve percent reported no effect of lysine against herpes attacks. Others reported shortened healing time and less severe symptoms with supplementation. 10 An earlier report in 45 patients taking 312 to 1200 mg lysine/day demonstrated beneficial effects from treatment in the form of accelerating herpes simplex infection recovery and suppressing recurrence. Tissue culture studies indicate that viral replication is suppressed as the lysine-to-arginine ratio increases. 11
In contrast, at least 2 other studies report some failure of lysine in herpes treatment. Lysine 500 mg twice daily had no effect on 251 treated episodes of recurrent herpes simplex labialis in 119 patients. 12 Lysine HCl 750 mg/day, administered to 31 herpes simplex labialis or genitalis patients showed no reduction in number of episodes; however, the 1 g dose showed a 47% reduction. 13
A case report exists concerning lysine supplementation for hyperargininemia in an 11-year-old girl. Lysine 250 mg/kg/day along with ornithine, produced a marked reduction of plasma ammonia and urinary orotic acid during a 6-month therapy period. 14
Other usesLysine acetylsalicylate has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and to detoxify heroin. 4 , 7
Dosage
Lysine has been given in pure form to athletes and the elderly at daily doses from 1.5 to 3 g daily. 15 , 16 , 17
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Because the average American consumes 6 to 10 g of lysine daily, prophylaxis of 500 to 1000 mg and treatment dose of 4000 mg/day are insignificant amounts comparatively speaking. Dosages such as these have proven to be safe and free of side effects. 9
Toxicology
In rats, effects of dietary lysine on toxicity of barbiturates and ethanol have been evaluated. An increase in onset of loss of righting reflex was observed. 18
Bibliography
1. http://www.teleport.comibis/lysine.html2. Budavari S, ed. The Merck Index . 11th ed. Rahway, NJ: Merck & Co. Inc.; 1989.
3. Agnew L, ed. Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary . 24th ed.. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co.; 1965.
4. Vescovi P, et al. Current Therapeutic Research . 1984;35:826-831.
5. Sinzinger H, et al. NEJM . 1984;311:1052.
6. Aarons L, et al. Pharm Res . 1989 Aug;6:660-666.
7. Hill J, et al. J Clin Pharm Ther . 1990;15:205-211.
8. Olin, BR, Hebel SK, eds. Drug Facts and Comparisons . St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; 1997.
9. Wright E. General Dentistry . 1994;42:40-42.
10. Wash D, et al. J Antimicrob Chemother . 1983;12:489-496.
11. Griffith R, et al. Dermatologica . 1978;156:257-267.
12. Milman N, et al. Lancet . 1978;2:942.
13. Simon C, et al. Arch Dermatol . 1985;121:167.
14. Kang S, et al. J Pediatr . 1983;103:763-765.
15. Suminski RR, Robertson RJ, Goss FL, et al. Acute effect of amino acid ingestion and resistance exercise on plasma growth hormone concentration in young men. Int J Sport Nutr . 1997;7:48-60.
16. Fogelholm GM, Naveri HK, Kiilavuori KT, Harkonen MH. Low-dose amino acid supplementation: no effects on serum human growth hormone and insulin in male weightlifters. Int J Sport Nutr . 1993;3:290-297.
17. Corpas E, Blackman MR, Roberson R, Scholfield D, Harman SM.Oral arginine-lysine does not increase growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor-I in old men. J Gerontol . 1993;48:M128-133.
18. Dubroff L, et al. J Pharm Sci . 1979;68:1554-1557.
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Herpes Simplex, Suppression, Aphthous Ulcer, Herpes Simplex
