Understanding The Health Benefits of Lysine

Your body relies on Lysine, an essential amino acid, for healthy functioning. Lysine is a building block protein that your body requires for tissue growth and damage repair. Unfortunately, our bodies do not create this vital nutrient itself and it must be obtained through your diet or supplements [1].

While Lysine plays a major role in keeping your body healthy, it has become popular as an alternative aid for reducing the number and the severity of cold sore outbreaks due to the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) [2].

 L-Lysine is the form of this amino acid that your body is able to utilize.

According to WebMD [3], Lysine is known by many scientific and brand names, such as the following:

• Hydrochlorure de L-Lysine
• L-2,6-diaminohexanoic acid, L-Lysine
• L-Lysine HCl
• L-Lysine Hydrochloride
• L-Lysine Monohydrochloride
• Lisina
• Lys
• Lysine Hydrochloride
• Lysine Monohydrochloride
• Monochlohydrate de L-Lysine
• Monochlohydrate de Lysine. [3] 

The Clear Story About L-Lysine

In 1889, an essential amino acid was isolated from casein (milk protein) by Edmund Drechsel a biological chemist at Germany's University of Freiburg. Dreschel named this amino acid 'lysin'. Thirteen years later, in 1902, Emil Fischer and Fritz Weigert interpreted the molecular structure of 'lysin'. The two University of Berlin chemists then synthesized it, meaning they reproduced the amino acid artificially [4].

L-Lysine was the first amino acid commercially produced for use in human foods and animal feed. Lysine fermentation was discovered in 1958 by Kyowa Hakko Kogyo. Over the next several decades, researchers improved the microbe by making it more robust and ferment in less time. Why is this important? Lysine is produced in large quantities and added to many foods, including flour, bread and cereals. Because our bodies cannot create it independently, foods need fortification to provide a Lysine source. Lysine fortification continues to be of great importance in countries where access to a variety of healthy food is limited [5]. 

In developing countries, Lysine deficiencies continue to be an issue, especially in areas that rely on cereals as a food staple. Through a process called biofortification, crops are enriched with Lysine to counteract diets deficient in amino acids and other crucial nutrients [6]. 

The amino acid, Lysine, is necessary for your body to maintain proper growth and development. In developed countries, most people get enough Lysine in their diet from supplements or foods like red meat, dairy products, fish, legumes and potatoes. Low levels of Lysine causes delayed growth, poor appetite and unexplained weight loss. Other symptoms are hair loss, anemia, fatigue and mood changes [7].

Benefits of Lysine

L-Lysine may protect against lip sores, also known as fever blisters or cold sores. These fluid-blisters are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). They tend to be painful, uncomfortable and embarrassing. Researchers believe that Lysine can reduce the duration and frequency of cold sore outbreaks by blocking another amino acid called arginine [8]. 

L-Lysine is one of the amino acids responsible for the production of collagen. Your skin requires collagen to provide its structure and help maintain that youthful elasticity and firmness we all desire. Skin health can significantly improve when taking a supplement that contains L-Lysine [9]. 

Some studies show that Lysine helps muscle tissue recover following strenuous activity. Athletes may take Lysine as a protein supplement to help rebuild muscle tissue and speed up recovery time [1]. 

In animal studies, lysine deficiency increases stress-induced anxiety and studies have found the same results in humans. In a low socioeconomic community in Syria, researchers launched a three-month trial to observe the relationship between nutrition, communal living and mental health. Researchers provided chosen households with Lysine fortified wheat flour to make bread. The study revealed that Lysine supplementation lowered cortisol levels and significantly reduced anxiety and stress responses in participants [10]. 

Better calcium absorption can offer protection for your bones and may benefit people with osteoarthritis. Taking Lysine and calcium dramatically improves the absorption rate of the supplemental calcium. In a study, 30 women took Lysine resulting in a reduction of calcium lost through urination [8].

How Is Lysine Used?

Supplemental L-Lysine is used to prevent or reduce the number of cold sore outbreaks by blocking the replication of the virus. Lysine aids in muscle repair and recovery, which is why some athletes take it after intense workouts. This essential amino acid is a building block for collagen and is vital for healthy bones, tissue, skin, tendons and cartilage. It's also thought to support the body's immunity, enzymes and hormones. Lysine may help with a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, high triglycerides, shingles, osteoporosis, anxiety and reduced cortisol levels [11]. 

A little Lysine fast fact: Like humans, animals cannot produce the essential amino acid Lysine, which has been a vital additive for livestock feeds since the 1980s. It is necessary for proper growth and milk production, but it also allows farmers to stretch their feeds further because it's a protein.

L-Lysine is available for human use in the following forms:

• Tablets & Capsules
• Creams
• Liquids
• Lip Balms
• Powdered
• Lip & Skin Health supplements
• Dietary Lysine:
• Meat, fish & dairy products
• Nuts, seeds & grains
• Legumes (beans)
• Fruit & vegetables

Variants of the herpes simplex virus cause both cold sores and genital sores. The course of treatment is usually an antiviral like aciclovir, famciclovir, or valaciclovir. However, some doctors recommend using a Lysine supplement with prescription medications for optimum results. Using only a Lysine supplement, people with lip sores in several studies reported a significant reduction in the frequency and duration of outbreaks. The clinical trial expressed that the daily therapeutic dosage is required for best results [12].

The time it takes wounds to heal can be improved with Lysine. The healing process requires multiple minerals and vitamins, but wound healing is difficult without adequate amounts of Lysine. Collagen, a structural protein that helps support tissue repair and skin and bones, needs Lysine for formation. Together, Lysine and arginine can reduce the time it takes for fractures to heal [8].

Why Clear Probiotics Utilizes Lysine

Your skin is actually an organ, the largest one in the human body and it is the first line of defense against pathogens. The Clear Lip & Skin formula helps improve your skin and lips from the inside out. This groundbreaking supplement combines Lysine with probiotics and prebiotics to create a product that restores the gut-brain connection, thereby replenishing your intestinal flora.

Clear Probiotics adds Lysine to the Clear Lip & Skin Health supplement because most of us don't think about how important it is to keep our skin healthy until we see that first wrinkle or thinning skin. The result? A healthy gut that can revitalize your entire body, including your lips and skin, leaving you looking and feeling younger.

The Science and Research Behind L-Lysine

Lysine for Cold Sores: Everything You Need to Know

Fever blisters or cold sores are painful and there is no known cure. More studies show that taking a Lysine supplement can reduce outbreaks by blocking the protein responsible for lip sores.

L-Lysine for Acne: Does It Work? Dosage, Side Effects, and More

L-Lysine promotes overall skin health and some believe it also improves acne and acne scars. Several factors cause pimples, but Lysine is just one nutrient that may help clear up acne-prone skin.

What is L-Lysine Good for?

Lysine helps various conditions and is also required for proper growth, wound healing, and collagen production. Not enough Lysine leads to a host of symptoms.

Lysine as a serotonin receptor antagonist: Using the diet to modulate gut function

Dr. Hasler, M.D. reports that Lysine is a gut serotonin receptor antagonist and findings show that it can relieve stress-related diarrhea and anxiety.

Resources:

1. Mount Sinai Staff. Health Library - Lysine. Mount Sinai - New York[Internet]. Accessed March 10, 2022: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/lysine 
2. Drugs.com Staff. Drugs A - Z. Lysine - Uses, Side Effects & Warnings. Drugs.com. [Internet] Access March 10, 2022: https://www.drugs.com/mtm/lysine.html 
3. WebMD Staff. Vitamins & Supplements. Lysine - Uses, Side Effects & More. WebMD. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-237/lysine 
4. ACS Staff. Molecule of the Week Archive - L-Lysine. October 18, 2021. American Chemical Society - Chemistry for Life. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/l/l-lysine.html 
5. Ikeda, Masato. Lysine Fermentation - History and Genome Breeding. p3-5. Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture. Shinshu University, Nagano 399-4598, Japan. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: file:///C:/Users/seoby/Downloads/Lysine_Fermentation_History_and_Genome_Breeding.pdf  
6. Qingqing Yang, Dongsheng Zhao, Chuangquan Zhang, Nese Sreenivasulu, Samuel Sai-Ming Sun, Qiaoquan Liu, Lysine biofortification of crops to promote sustained human health in the 21st century, Journal of Experimental Botany, Volume 73, Issue 5, 2 March 2022, Pages 1258–1267. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erab482 
7. Uddin, Rae. Signs & Symptoms of Lysine Deficiency. Healthfully. December 05, 2018. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: https://healthfully.com/signs-symptoms-of-lysine-deficiency-6572818.html 
8. Sharon O'Brien, MS, PGDip. 4 Impressive Health Benefits of Lysine. Healthline. October 06, 2018. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lysine-benefits 
9. Brooke Shunatona. Dermatologists Don't Recommend Using Lysine for Acne - Here's Why. Byrdie. February 27, 2022. [Internet] Accessed Match 10, 2022: https://www.byrdie.com/lysine-for-skin-4783421 
10. Smriga M, Ghosh S, Mouneimne Y, Pellett PL, Scrimshaw NS. Lysine fortification reduces anxiety and lessens stress in family members in economically weak communities in Northwest Syria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004;101(22):8285-8288. doi:10.1073/pnas.0402550101. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC420386/ 
11. Danielle Dresden. What are the health benefits of lysine?. MedicalNewsToday. December 17, 2018. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324019#health-benefits
12. Mailoo VJ, Rampes S. Lysine for Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of the Evidence. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2017;16(3):42-46. [Internet] Accessed March 10, 2022: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419779/