Vitamin C and lysine are both essential nutrients that your body cannot make and therefore must be replaced through daily nutrition or supplements. Lysine is one of the amino acids in complete protein, which is responsible for proper growth. Vitamin C is also responsible for normal growth and tissue repair. Vitamin C and lysine are used together in various complementary and alternative therapies. Before taking any supplements, consult with your physician or health-care provider.
Growth Functions
Vitamin C is necessary for collagen formation in bones, cartilage, blood vessels and muscles. It also helps your body with the absorption of iron. Vitamin C also aids the body in tissue repair, wound healing and maintenance of teeth, bones and cartilage. Since it is water soluble, the body flushes unused amounts out of your body in your urine. This is why you need a continuous supply of vitamin C daily for normal growth and repair. Lysine also helps in the formation of collagen, which is important in bones, skin, tendons, cartilage and connective tissues throughout your body. Lysine helps the body absorb calcium and is important for normal growth. Lysine is found in various sources of protein, meat and legumes.
Disease Prevention
Vitamin C is necessary to prevent scurvy, which can cause weakness, anemia, skin hemorrhages, gum disease and in rare cases, death. Scurvy is rare in the United States where most people get enough vitamin C in their daily diet. While many people use vitamin C as a cold preventative, no actual cold reduction benefits have been observed, according to the MayoClinic.com. Vitamin C does help to promote a healthy immune system. Lysine may help prevent ostoporosis because it helps the body absorb calcium, and it shows antiviral effects, according to the National Library of Medicine Toxicology Data Network.
Hair Loss
Hair disorders such as alopecia, male pattern baldness, hirsutism and hair shaft disorders may be due to nutritional deficiencies. A combination of various supplements including 500 mg to 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 500 mg to 1,000 mg of lysine may help to reduce symptoms of hair loss, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Lymphoma
A nutrient mixture containing vitamin C, lysine and proline showed promise in stopping metastasis in Burkitt's lymphoma and T-cell lymphoma, according to a study headed by M.W. Roomi published in the September 2009 issue of "Experimental Oncology." The nutrient mixture helps to strengthen connective tissue surrounding cancer cells, which encapsulates the tumor, according to the study.
References
- National Library of Medicine: TOXNET: L-Lysine; 5/13/2010
- Mayo Clinic: Vitamin C (Ascrobic Acid); November 5, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lysine; 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin C-Overview; 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hair Disorders; 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Scurvy-Overview; 2011
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