From the Research
The recommended dose of lysine for herpes labialis is 1,000 mg daily, as suggested by the study published in Acta dermato-venereologica 1. This dose has been shown to have a prophylactic effect on recurrent herpes simplex labialis, with significantly more patients being recurrence-free during lysine treatment compared to placebo treatment. The study published in Oral surgery, oral medicine, and oral pathology 2 also supports the use of 1,000 mg of lysine daily, as it found that serum lysine concentrations above 165 nmol/ml were associated with a significant decrease in recurrence rate. It is essential to note that lysine should be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption and that individuals with frequent outbreaks may benefit from a maintenance dose of 500-1,000 mg daily. Additionally, reducing intake of arginine-rich foods and consulting with a healthcare provider before starting lysine supplementation, especially if taking medications or having kidney disease, is crucial. Other studies, such as those published in Recent patents on inflammation & allergy drug discovery 3, Expert review of anti-infective therapy 4, and The Annals of pharmacotherapy 5, discuss the use of antiviral therapy for herpes labialis, but they do not provide information on the optimal dose of lysine. Therefore, based on the available evidence, 1,000 mg of lysine daily is the recommended dose for herpes labialis.