From the Guidelines
Lyzine is likely a misspelling of lysine, an essential amino acid that plays a crucial role in human health, including being a substrate for carnitine biosynthesis in the human body 1. Lysine is an important amino acid that can be found in various protein-rich foods such as meat, cheese, fish, eggs, and legumes.
- It is involved in the biosynthesis of carnitine, which is essential for energy metabolism, particularly in the transportation of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix for β-oxidation 1.
- The human body can synthesize carnitine using lysine and methionine as substrates, and healthy individuals, including strict vegetarians, generally do not require carnitine supplementation 1.
- If considering lysine supplementation, typical doses range from 1,000-3,000 mg daily, often taken to support immune function or help with cold sores, although it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider for personalized advice. Given the potential confusion with the term "lyzine" and the importance of accurate medical information, it is recommended to consult with a healthcare provider for any health concerns or questions regarding supplementation or dietary needs 1.
From the Research
Lysine Overview
- Lysine is an amino acid that has been studied for its potential to suppress the clinical manifestations of herpesvirus infection 2
- The use of amino acids in supplements and functional foods is increasing globally, but there are no guidelines for the upper limit of ingestion for the safe use of these amino acids 3
Lysine and Herpes Simplex
- Lysine appears to be an effective agent for reduction of occurrence, severity, and healing time for recurrent herpes simplex infection 4
- Lysine supplementation appears to be ineffective for prophylaxis or treatment of herpes simplex lesions with doses of less than 1 g/d without low-arginine diets 5
- Doses of lysine in excess of 3 g/d appear to improve patients' subjective experience of the disease 5
- Tissue culture studies have demonstrated an enhancing effect on viral replication when the amino acid ratio of arginine to lysine favors arginine, while the opposite, preponderance of lysine to arginine, suppresses viral replication and inhibits cytopathogenicity of herpes simplex virus 2
Safety of Lysine Intake
- The provisional no-observed-adverse-effect level of L-lysine was obtained based on gastrointestinal symptoms and was 6000 mg/person/day 3
- The observed adverse events of L-lysine intake were mainly subjective symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract such as nausea, stomachache, and diarrhea 3
- Integrated analysis of the risk for developing gastrointestinal symptoms revealed that the risk ratio was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.96-1.07; p = 0.49); thus, no significant increase was observed 3
Comparison with Other Antiviral Agents
- Propolis and olive leaf extract have antiviral efficacy against herpes simplex virus type 1, and may reduce the dose and side effects of acyclovir in case of co-administration 6
- These agents may exert their effects through a different mechanism than acyclovir, possibly through direct virucidal activity, inhibition of virus internalization, or viral inhibition in early stages of replication 6