Lysine is one of the essential amino acids, meaning you need to obtain it through food or supplements because your body can't make it. Unless you are a burn victim, a vegan who doesn't eat beans or an athlete, you probably get plenty of lysine through your diet. Speak with a doctor before taking lysine supplements to make sure they are safe for you and to determine the right dosage.
Sources
Dietary sources of lysine include beans, eggs, cheese and other dairy products, meat, poultry, fish and nuts. Brewer's yeast, spirulina and fenugreek seeds also contain lysine. Supplemental lysine in the form of L-lysine is available in capsule, tablet, liquid and cream forms either alone or in combination with other amino acids.
Dosage
Most people require approximately 1 g of lysine per day, which they get through their diets, according to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Therapeutic doses of lysine normally range from 1 to 9 g per day, with many people taking 1 to 3 g per day. However, University of Utah Health Care doesn't recommend you take high doses of individual amino acids for long periods of time.
Side Effects and Interactions
Lysine can cause side effects, especially at high doses. Side effects from taking supplemental lysine may include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, high cholesterol, kidney problems and gallstones. Lysine may also interact with certain supplements. It may increase the absorption of calcium supplements, while arginine supplements may decrease the absorption of lysine supplements.
Safety
Dietary lysine is considered safe, but the safety of high doses of supplemental lysine has not been well studied, according to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Lysine is not safe for everyone, so speak to your doctor before taking this supplement to make sure it is safe for you. If you are pregnant, nursing, have kidney or liver problems you should not take lysine.
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