Lysine is an essential amino acid that has to be present in sufficient amounts in food to meet the nutritional requirements of human beings. It is a necessary building block for all bodily proteins, playing a major role in calcium absorption, building muscle protein, recovery from surgery / sports injuries and also involved in production of hormones, enzymes, and antibodies.
Lysine is important for proper growth, as it is essential to production of carnithine (a nutrient responsible for converting fatty acids into energy; in addition to helping lower cholesterol levels). This amino acid is frequently utilized by athletes to help build lean mass during training due to its role in supporting the overall health of muscle and bone.
Taken regularly, lysine may help prevent development of cold sores and genital herpes. It also accelerates recovery from Herpes Simplex virus infection and suppresses recurrence, further decreasing the severity of symptoms during flare-ups. Unfortunately, there is a growing body of evidence that implicates the virus in development of Alzheimer’s dementia.
Osteoporosis is a bone disorder frequently affecting menopausal women, in which the bones become weak and brittle (particularly in the hips, spine and wrists) and increases the risk of falls and fractures. Lysine plays a role in maintaining healthy bones, while reducing the amount of calcium lost in the urine. Studies have shown that dietary supplementation with lysine can increase calcium absorption.
In addition to calcium, lysine also helps your body absorb iron and zinc. These minerals are important for maintaining skin and hair health. Vegans with a lysine-deficient diet may have poor hair health due to reduced zinc and iron absorption. While lysine alone has not been shown to prevent hair loss, one study has shown that iron-deficient women who supplement with both iron and lysine can reduce hair loss by up to 50 percent.
Lysine has also been shown to help relieve anxiety through its effect on a chemical messenger i.e. serotonin receptors in the intestinal tract, as overstimulation of these receptors in the gut is associated with diarrhoea. By working against serotonin, lysine helps reduce signs of anxiety and diarrhoea in the sample population of a study. It also appears to help diminish long-term anxiety in individuals who were previously lysine-deficient.
Limited studies suggest that a high lysine diet (or lysine supplements) may have a moderating effect on blood pressures and the incidence of stroke. It may be beneficial in helping ensure your heart is healthy by preventing the build-up of junk on the walls of our arteries that can clog and prevent blood circulation to deliver nutrients to body tissues.
Lysine is important to the formation of collagen, which supports the skin, muscles, and joints. Supplementation thus helps keep our skin looking young and healthy. Collagen is necessary for the repair of all connective tissues in the body and plays a key role in growth and repair. Thus, it may in turn help athletes recover more quickly from intense workouts.
For maximum efficacy, lysine has to be taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water. Intake is especially recommended before sleep or exercise. Please speak to your Doctor for advice on how to utilise this supplement safely to help support bodily health and wellbeing.
