Lysine is an amino acid your body can't produce naturally. Amino acids play crucial roles in growth and energy production and serve as the building blocks of proteins. Usually, your diet contains enough lysine-rich foods, such as meat, eggs, nuts, legumes and soybeans, to meet your daily needs. People who don't get enough lysine may develop nausea, dizziness, anemia, fatigue and appetite loss. If you need to raise your lysine levels, your doctor may recommend adding a lysine supplement to your daily diet. Before taking this amino acid supplement, discuss the potential dangers of lysine with your physician.
Warnings
Treatment with lysine supplements may not be appropriate if you have certain medical problems or concerns. The safety and effectiveness of lysine during pregnancy has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consequently, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid taking lysine in therapeutic dosages. In addition, avoid treatment with lysine if you have liver or kidney disease. Organ damage caused by these health conditions may make it harder for your body to remove excess lysine or other waste products from your blood. If you have a personal history of gallstones, talk with your doctor before using lysine supplements, because this amino acid may increase your risk of developing gallstones.
Side Effects
Lysine supplements are generally regarded as safe when used as directed. However, mild stomach pain or diarrhea may arise following treatment with unusually high dosages of lysine. Though additional research is needed to examine the side effects of lysine in humans, treatment with this amino acid may increase cholesterol levels. Contact your doctor for further evaluation and care if you experience persistent stomach pain or recurrent bouts of diarrhea.
Interactions with Medications
Taking arginine, another type of amino acid, may lower your blood levels of lysine. A higher than usual dose of lysine may be necessary for people who take this supplement in conjunction with arginine. In addition, lysine shouldn't be used in conjunction with calcium supplements because lysine may increase your body's ability to absorb calcium. Increased calcium absorption may elevate your risk of developing hypercalcemia, a condition in which your blood levels of calcium are at dangerously high levels.
Preparations and Recommended Dosage
Usually, lysine is sold over the counter as L-lysine and is available in liquid, capsule, tablet and cream form. Only your doctor can determine how much lysine is appropriate for you, given your weight, health status and age. Discuss any questions you have regarding the recommended dosage of lysine with your health care provider.
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