Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus. Many people who have herpes do not have symptoms and may not know they carry the virus. It is highly contagious and can be transmitted even if your partner does not show signs of an outbreak. There is no cure for genital herpes but there are treatments that reduces the symptoms and dietary changes that can reduce the number of outbreaks you experience.
Arginine
Arginine is an amino acid that is used by the herpes virus in replication and growth. Studies published in 1978 and 1981 in the journals "Chemotherapy" and "Dermatologica" found that arginine encouraged the growth of the virus, while lysine inhibited the growth of the herpes simplex virus. Because arginine can be synthesized by the body, it is considered non-essential. Arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide, which plays an important role in ejaculation, vascular health and connective tissue, according to DietaryFiberFood.com. A known side effect of arginine is that it undermines the effect that lysine has on the suppression of viral infections.
Food sources of arginine that should be limited when you are trying to prevent a genital herpes outbreak are peanuts, walnuts, coconut, dairy, pork, beef, chicken, seafood, cereal and chocolate. Foods high in lysine and arginine often overlap. It is important, therefore, to consider the ratio of arginine to lysine in foods to determine if they are higher in lysine or in arginine when you are making your dietary choices.
Lysine
Lysine is an essential amino acid that is necessary for health but which the body cannot manufacture. This amino acid is a building block for protein, important for growth, and a component of converting fatty acids into energy and lowering cholesterol levels in the body. In studies published in 1978 and 1981, lysine was found to reduce the number of outbreaks of genital herpes.
Foods that are rich in lysine include red meat, pork, poultry, cheese, nuts, eggs, soybeans, brewer's yeast, beans and other legume and dairy products. Those suffering from genital herpes can reduce the number of outbreaks of the blisters by including foods in their diet each day that are high in lysine but low in arginine.
Ratio
When trying to eat a diet that is higher in lysine than arginine to reduce the potential for a herpes outbreak, consider the following foods, which have a higher ratio of lysine to arginine, according to Herpes.com: plain and fruit yogurt, Swiss cheese, blue cheese, provolone cheese, parmesan cheese, goat milk, beets, butter, cheddar cheese, milk, applesauce, pears, apricots, mango, ice cream, tuna , tomatoes, carp, pike, whitefish, bass, perch, catfish and herring.
Supplementation
When you can't reduce the amount of arginine sufficiently in your body or increase the amount of lysine you eat, you may want to consider supplementation. Before adding any herb or supplement to your regimen, consult with your physician to ensure that it does not interfere with any other medications or underlying medical conditions. Lysine supplements come in tablets, capsules, creams and liquids, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The supplement is usually sold in l-lysine form, which is well utilized by the body.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lysine
- Dermatologica: "A Multicentered Study of Lysine Therapy in Herpes Simplex Infection"; RS. Griffith, AL Norins, C Kagan; 1978
- Chemotherapy: "Relation of Arginine-Lysine Antagonism to Herpes Simplex Growth in Tissue Culture"; RS Griffith, DC DeLong, JD Nelson; 1981
- Dietary Fiber Food: Amino Acid L-Arginine: Health Benefits, Side Effects and Food Sources
- Herpes: Adding Lysine to Your Diet Can Help Control Herpes
