Lysine is an essential amino acid, meaning we cannot make it but must get it directly from our diet. It’s an important nutrient that helps to make proteins for the body, like muscles and tissues, plus aids in making collagen in our connective tissues strong and flexible. It also helps our uptake and utilization of minerals like calcium and iron and helps with fatty acid metabolism by making carnitine. It helps regulate the external effects on our genes through histone modification. That’s a lot of benefits for one little amino acid!

One of the other well-known benefits of lysine is in its role with cold sore symptoms. Herpes simplex virus (HSV), the virus responsible for cold sores, naturally contains more of the amino acid arginine and less lysine. Since lysine and arginine compete for absorption and uptake, lysine supplementation is used as a treatment to take up these spaces in these viral cells, decreasing their ability to function. Taking supplemental L-lysine can decrease the frequency and duration of cold sore outbreaks.

MEDICINAL INGREDIENT — EACH VEGETARIAN CAPSULE CONTAINS:

• L-Lysine (L-Lysine Monohydrochloride) 500 mg

NON-MEDICINAL INGREDIENTS:

• Microcrystalline Cellulose
• Magnesium Stearate (Non-GMO Vegetable Source)
• Hypromellose / Pullulan (Vegetarian Capsule)

RECOMMENDED DOSE — (ORAL) ADULTS ONLY:

Take 2 capsules 3 times per day.

DURATION OF USE:

Consult a health care practitioner for use beyond 6 months.

CAUTION:

Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are following a low protein diet or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Q: Where do we find lysine in our diet?

A:  As an amino acid, lysine is found in high-protein foods, like eggs, meat, legumes, cheese and some fish like cod and sardines. A lysine deficiency can be more of an issue in an unbalanced vegan diet, as lysine is the limiting amino acid in most grains, though is high in most beans and lentils. Ensure your vegan or vegetarian diet is balanced by including those legumes, and you’re all set!

Q: Can I also decrease my food sources of arginine to help lysine get into those viral cells?

A: Though arginine can have beneficial effects in the body, yes, decreasing your intake while dealing with an outbreak may be beneficial. Reducing food sources of arginine like nuts, seeds, chocolate and grains, which have a high arginine/low lysine profile can be helpful.

Q: What are the symptoms of a lysine deficiency?

A: A lack of lysine can contribute to poor connective tissues, impaired fatty acid metabolism and anaemia. With its role in calcium utilization, lysine deficiency may contribute to poor bone health and cardiovascular issues.

Q: Isn’t the herpes virus also responsible for genital herpes?

A: Herpes simplex-1 virus is responsible for cold sores. HSV-2 is responsible for genital herpes. Many people have one or both of these viruses without symptoms, and therefore can pass it on unknowingly. Lysine can help to reduce the number of outbreaks or decrease outbreak duration of HSV-1. Though it is studied more for cold sores, lysine can potentially help genetial herpes as well.

Q: Is this the same lysine that they talk about in Jurassic Park?

A: Yes! Fun fact, in the novel and movie they engineered the dinosaurs so they couldn’t produce lysine and therefore not live outside of the park and its lysine-supplemented diet. Science in fiction!