What are the benefits of L-lysine? L-lysine is an amino acid, meaning the body uses it to make proteins. Naturally, lysine helps provide protein structure, support muscle mass and heal wounds. Lysine is mostly found in the muscles and helps promote healthy tissue function, growth and immune system function (x).
But what about as a dietary supplement? As an oral supplement, L-lysine may be able to mimic these processes, producing energy for exercise performance and healing and protecting the body from damage. It may also help prevent infections and benefit mental health.
If you’ve been looking for a way to naturally reduce stress or if you simply want to amp up your performance in the gym, L-lysine powder may be the right supplement for you. However, there is no research that definitively proves the benefits of lysine as a supplement. You should consult a doctor before taking it, as its benefits and side effects may vary per person.
What is L-Lysine HCL?
If you’ve heard of lysine, you might have also heard of L-lysine, making it a bit confusing to differentiate between the two. So, what is the difference between lysine and L-lysine? L-lysine is a form of lysine that the body uses in protein synthesis, the process that makes proteins (x). Lysine fermentation was first conducted in the 1950s by Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd. (x). Lysine is one of the nine essential amino acids, which makes it a key element in a healthy diet.
What are Amino Acids?
Amino acids are organic compounds that combine in the body to create proteins that we need to lead healthy lives. There are two categories of amino acids: essential and nonessential amino acids. Nonessential amino acids are made by our bodies. Essential amino acids are not made in our bodies, so we must get them via food sources or from supplements.
Lysine is an essential amino acid, so we must get it from food. You can find L-lysine in several foods including (x):
- Avocadoes
- Parmesan cheese
- Grass-fed chicken and turkey
- Organic eggs
- Sardines
- Cantaloupe
- Beets
- Tomatoes
- Green and red peppers
- Beans
What are the Benefits of L-Lysine?
So you’ve heard the origins of L-lysine, but what is L-lysine used for and what does it do? Research suggests that L-lysine may have a number of potential benefits to bring to the body (x).
We reached out to Lisa Richards, a certified nutritionist, for insight. Richards has been featured in publications including Today, US News, Women’s Health Magazine and Huffington Post. Richards is also the creator of The Candida Diet, a site that stresses the importance of a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet.
Exercise & Athletic Performance
Lysine supplements may play an important role in building and maintaining muscle tissue, making it popular among athletes (x). When the body doesn’t receive enough L-lysine, it shows. Richards states, “Low levels of lysine within the muscles has been connected with a decrease in muscle strength and structure. Increased structure allows for better overall performance.”
Low lysine levels over an extended period of time can potentially slow down protein synthesis. This process is a pertinent part of helping the body rebuild muscle, especially after extensive or strenuous workouts.
Carnitine Production
Lysine also works with other natural amino acids to support muscle mass and strength—arginine and carnitine (x). According to Richards, “the body uses amino acids to produce many other essential compounds. This is the same for lysine and carnitine. The body can produce carnitine when it recognizes a decrease, by using lysine in conjunction with vitamin C [which] acts as a sort of catalyst for the process.”
What is Carnitine?
Carnitine is derived from amino acids and is found in skeletal and cardiac muscle. It plays a natural role in energy production, converting fatty acids into energy. L-carnitine is produced in the body from amino acids lysine and methionine (x). It can also be found in animal products like meat or fish. It is popular and well known for its ability to convert fat into energy.
Lysine supplements may also help speed up the recovery time for athletes or people struggling with exercise-related injuries. If you’re looking to keep your muscles in their best possible condition and you’re additionally looking to improve your athletic performance, L-lysine may be the right supplement for you (x).
Wound-Healing
Another one of the many benefits of L-lysine is that it produces collagen, which makes up skin, hair, bones, cartilage, teeth, blood vessels and organs. Collagen is a structural protein, so it plays a natural role in building connective tissue and healing wounds (x). L-lysine supplements may produce similar benefits. Richards points out that amino acids acids are necessary for muscle and tissue and “build up at the site of a wound. This [buildup] speeds recovery time and wound healing. It is necessary for collagen and binds to the wound site to prevent further damage to other cells.”
Lysine does not, however, produce collagen solely on its own. It needs calcium in order to do it. Calcium is essential for collagen production in the body. When L-lysine and calcium combine, they help produce the collagen the body needs to repair itself structurally. Research suggests that because of this relationship, nutrition may play a role in how the body heals and how it looks physically. For example, there are studies between nutrition and hair loss, since hair is made from collagen (x).
Cold Sore Treatment
Research also states that lysine may have the potential to treat cold sores. Cold sores are very common and they usually appear on the lip or around the mouth. They can cause burning, itching, irritation and—potentially worst of all—they can cause self-consciousness. Cold sores are the result of variants of the herpes simplex virus, which can lie dormant in the body—stored in the spine—sometimes without causing any symptoms at all until something triggers them (x).
Luckily, L-lysine supplements may step in to save the day. Lysine may potentially prevent the virus from reacting and spreading symptoms throughout the body. Some studies suggest that lysine may also block arginine, which may play a role in how the virus multiplies (x). In a study on 26 people prone to recurring cold sores, researchers suggested that a daily dosage of 1,000 mg may have reduced the subjects’ cold sores (x).
Even though research may support the benefits of L-lysine, there are no studies that completely prove its efficacy. It may not completely cure or prevent any symptom, illness or disease on its own. So it’s important to consult a doctor before you take this supplement.
How Much L-Lysine HCl to Take
L-lysine HCl powder comes in several different forms—powder and capsules. If you are taking the capsule form, the recommended dosage is one capsule per day. If you are taking L-lysine powder, take 680 mg two times a day.
Make sure to consult a doctor before adding L-lysine to your health regimen to make sure the supplement is right for you. Individual needs may vary, as well as the side effects.
Possible Side Effects of L-Lysine HCL Supplements
Overall, experts deem lysine safe for people to use orally. However, there are possible side effects that L-lysine supplementation may have on the body. Because L-lysine is an amino acid and closely related to proteins, if it is taken excessively, it may cause gastrointestinal issues or complications with digestion. It is important to follow the recommended dosage that your doctor provides. Side effects of l-lysine supplementation include (x):
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Gallstones
Warnings & Precautions
If you suffer from kidney disease, liver damage, digestive issues, osteoporosis or if you have an intolerance to lysinuric protein, refrain from taking lysine supplements. It may cause serious health complications.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
You should not take lysine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. There are not enough studies to determine whether it is safe for pregnancy, so avoid it to be safe (x).
Where to Buy L-Lysine HCL Supplements
You can purchase L-lysine HCL at BulkSupplements.com in both powder and capsule form. The company is an industry-leading manufacturer and distributor for pure dietary supplements. BulkSupplements.com is not just a consumer brand. It also supplies pure ingredients to other brands that distribute food and other supplement products. All products at BulkSupplements.com are manufactured and tested according to current and proper manufacturing practices.
Are you interested in trying L-lysine HCL to help with exercise performance, wound healing and potentially supporting connective tissue? Contact BulkSupplements.com to place an order today.
Bottom Line
If you’ve been looking for a healthy way to spice up your athletic performance or your overall health , lysine supplementation may be the right choice for you. The body naturally uses lysine for protein synthesis. It plays a role in producing collagen—a structural protein—and carnitine, a protein stored in the skeletal and cardiac muscles. It’s an important amino acid in the body but as a supplement, L-lysine may provide similar benefits. The supplement may be able to support exercise performance, heal wounds and support connective tissue.
Make sure you consult a doctor before taking this supplement to make sure it is the right one for you. While lysine has an array of health benefits, it may also cause side effects. Overall, lysine is deemed safe and could help you meet the health goals you’ve been looking to achieve.
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.