4 Impressive Health Benefits of Lysine

Is lysine an anti-inflammatory?

Lysine is an essential amino acid that may have some anti-inflammatory properties.

What should I avoid when taking lysine?

As lysine increases how much calcium is absorbed in the body, it’s best to avoid taking too much calcium along with lysine.

Does lysine make you gain weight?

More research is needed to determine the relationship between lysine supplementation and body weight.

Key Takeaways

• Lysine is an essential amino acid needed for growth, muscle repair, and energy.
• It may help prevent cold sores and reduce anxiety by blocking stress receptors.
• Lysine may also boost calcium absorption and support wound healing via collagen.

Lysine is a building block for protein and an essential amino acid. Because your body cannot make it, you need to obtain it from food. You need lysine for:

• growth
• muscle turnover
• forming carnitine, a substance found in most cells of your body
• transporting fats across your cells to be burned for energy

L-lysine is the form of lysine your body can utilize. It’s naturally found in food and is the type used in supplements.

Here are four impressive health benefits of lysine.

Cold sores, or fever blisters, are symptoms of an infection, often appearing on the lip or the corners of your mouth as fluid-filled blisters that can cause discomfort, such as tingling, pain, and burning.

Cold sores are caused by the… Show more

Lysine may play a role in reducing anxiety, though more research is still needed to support this.

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Lysine may help your body hold on to calcium by increasing calcium absorption in your gut and helping your kidneys hold on to the mineral.

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Like all amino acids, Lysine is a building block for protein in your body. These proteins help produce hormones, immune cells, and enzymes.

Lysine may have several benefits in addition to those discussed earlier.

Here are other areas where lysine may benefit your health:

• Cancer: One 2017 animal study found that lysine, in combination with the antioxidant catechin, reduced cancer cell growth in mice.
• Eye health: A 2022 study found that lysine may help dry eye.
• Diabetes: One 2017 study showed that lysine may help reduce blood sugar response in people with diabetes.
• Blood pressure: A study in 50 adults with lysine deficiency and high blood pressure found that lysine supplements significantly reduced blood pressure.

Lysine is

Food sources of lysine include:

• Meat: beef, chicken, and lamb
• Seafood: mussels, prawns, and oysters
• Fish: salmon, cod, and tuna
• Dairy products: milk, cheese, and yogurt
• Legumes: soy, kidney beans, and chickpeas
• Nuts and seeds: pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and cashews

If you’re prone to cold sores, taking