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Lysine is an essential amino acid and is a basic building block of all protein. This nutrient was first isolated in 1889 from casein.
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It is required for growth and bone development in children, assists in calcium absorption and maintaining the correct nitrogen balance in the body and maintaining lean body mass. Furthermore it is needed to produce antibodies, hormones, enzymes, collagen formation as well as repair of tissue.
Since it helps with the building of muscle protein, it is useful for patients recovering from injuries and recovery after operations, and there might be use in lysine to help maintain healthy blood vessels. It also seems to assist in fighting herpes and cold sores.
Although a deficiency of lysine is rare, since it is found in so many protein foods, the symptoms may include anemia, enzyme disorders, lack of energy, hair loss, bloodshot eyes, weight loss and retarded growth as well as reproductive problems, poor appetite and poor concentration.
People on a vegan or vegetarian diet, using grains as their only source of protein are often deficient in this nutrient.
The dosage listed is the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), but be aware that this dosage is the minimum that you require per day, to ward off serious deficiency of this particular nutrient. In the therapeutic use of this nutrient, the dosage is usually increased considerably, but the toxicity level must be kept in mind.
The daily dosage of lysine is about 12 mg per kilogram of body weight per day - which would translate to about 840 mg for a 70 kg male.
Pregnant or breast feeding mothers, as well as patients with liver or kidney problems, must first consult a health professional before taking lysine supplements.
Toxicity has not been determined but animals fed high amounts of lysine, have shown a tendency to gallstones as well as elevated cholesterol - but these tendencies have not been proven in humans.
Diarrhea and stomach cramps may be indicative in high dosage, but these are not consistent symptoms.
Athletes, burn patients and people suffering from herpes and cold sores may benefit from an increase of lysine.
Older people could also require more lysine, as one study found older men required more of this nutrient than younger men.
Lysine must be used with care in supplement form when taking antibiotics as well.
Good sources of lysine are found in cheese, eggs, lima beans, potatoes, milk, meat and brewer's yeast.
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