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Lysine

Uses

Lysine is an essential amino acid needed for growth and to help maintain nitrogen balance in the body. (Essential amino acids cannot be made in the body and must be supplied by the diet or supplements.)

What Are Star Ratings?

This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:

Used for Why
3 Stars
Cold Sores
1 to 3 grams daily
Supplementing with lysine may reduce recurrences by suppressing the virus that causes sores.

The amino acid has been reported to reduce the recurrence rate of herpes simplex infections in both preliminary and double-blind trials. The amount used in these studies was usually 1 to 3 grams per day, although some people received as little as 312 mg per day. In one double-blind trial, lysine supplementation (1,200 mg per day) failed to prevent recurrences better than placebo. However, the results of that study may have been skewed by a large number of dropouts in the placebo group who fared poorly but were not included in the analysis.

When lysine has been used for acute outbreaks, the results have been mixed. In a preliminary study, 390 mg of lysine taken at the first sign of a herpes outbreak resulted in rapid resolution of the cold sores in all cases. However, in a double-blind study, supplementing with 1 gram of lysine per day for five days did not increase the healing rate of the cold sores.

2 Stars
Genital Herpes
1,000 mg daily
Taking lysine may speed healing and help prevent future outbreaks.

Most research on has been done on people with cold sores or on groups that include both cold sores and genital herpes sufferers. However, some evidence exists that supplemental lysine may be effective in the prevention and treatment of genital herpes. In one preliminary survey, 81% of people with HSV infections (including genital herpes) reported lysine was effective for reducing recurrences and shortening healing time in amounts averaging about 1,000 mg per day. A small double-blind trial of people with oral and genital herpes examined the effects of 1,248 mg or 624 mg of lysine daily versus placebo. The study found that 1,248 mg per day of lysine, but not the lower dose, was effective in reducing the recurrence rate of herpes outbreaks by 57% to 65%, while neither dose helped reduce the healing time. Another small double-blind trial found that using 3,000 mg per day of lysine in divided doses led to a decrease in severity of symptoms and a reduction in healing time of both oral and genital herpes. One preliminary report found no benefit of lysine for a group of patients with either oral or genital herpes.

1 Star
Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia
Refer to label instructions
Because shingles is caused by a herpes virus, some doctors believe that lysine could help, since it inhibits replication of herpes simplex, a related virus.

Because shingles is caused by a herpes virus, some doctors believe that supplementation could help people with the condition, since lysine inhibits replication of herpes simplex, a related virus. However, lysine has not been shown to inhibit Varicella zoster, nor has it been shown to provide any benefit for people with shingles outbreaks. Therefore, its use in this condition remains speculative.

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