The herpes virus causes cold sores and is incurable. If you have herpes, you're in good company. According to the National Institutes of Health, 80 percent of people carry this virus. The virus can go dormant for long periods of time, then resurface in an outbreak. The amino acid L-lysine, which is also referred to as simply "lysine," may be helpful in controlling such outbreaks.
What is L-Lysine?
Amino acids, such as lysine, are the building blocks of protein, which is present in every cell in your body. There are ten nonessential amino acids that your body is capable of synthesizing. There are ten other essential amino acids that your body can't synthesize. All of these amino acids are needed to form a complete protein. Lysine is one of the essential amino acids. It is found in generous quantities in animal products such as meat, eggs and poultry, and in smaller quantities in grains such as wheat and corn.
Lysine Research
There have been numerous studies focusing on the effectiveness of lysine as a treatment for cold sores, according to "Alternative Medicine Review." The use of lysine supplements and high lysine diets was observed to correspond with reductions in the number of both oral and genital herpes outbreaks, as well as the reductions in the severity of symptoms and shortening the duration of recurrent herpes outbreaks. Keep in mind, however, that not all studies have shown a benefit from taking lysine to treat cold sores, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Using Lysine to Curb your Cold Sores
UMMC recommends a daily dosage of 3 to 9 g of lysine for the treatment of active herpes outbreaks. During periods when the virus is dormant a dosage of 1 g per day is advised to prevent future outbreaks. In both cases the dosages should be broken down and taken in smaller amounts throughout the day until the desired dosage is reached.
Considerations
Those with liver or kidney disease should avoid lysine, according to Drugs.com. High dosages of lysine are generally safe, though some have reported gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea in association with the use of lysine supplements. When trying to increase your intake of dietary lysine, it is important to note that the bioavailability of this nutrient is compromised when foods containing it are prepared with heat I the presence of sugar, or dry cooking at high temperatures
