L-lysine, alternatively called lysine or amino acid K, belongs to the group of crucial organic nutrients known as essential amino acids. Such compounds contribute to various basic biological functions, ranging from keeping your tissue healthy to digesting the food you eat. Your body cannot make essential amino acids independently. Consequently, to satisfy the daily requirement for L-lysine, you must consume food or dietary supplements containing sufficient amounts.
Features of L-Lysine
Amino acids such as L-lysine serve as the core components of protein, a major nutrient found in significant quantities in foods like eggs, legumes, meat, nuts, poultry and soybeans. Heinrich Drechsel, a German dentist, identified L-lysine in 1889. The compound became available as a supplement in the United States in 1955 as the product called lysine hydrochloride. Manufacturers prepare L-lysine products in four common forms: capsules, creams, liquids and tablets.
Recommended Intake
Children younger than 2 usually have no daily requirement for L-lysine, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Each day, children ages 2 to 12 years old should consume about 10 mg of L-lysine for each pound they weigh, and the average person age 13 or older needs approximately 12 mg a day. Adults diagnosed with herpes simplex can take several doses of L-lysine throughout the day totaling 3,000 to 9,000 mg to treat their condition. Taking 1,000 mg of the amino acid three times a day can then help to prevent herpes outbreaks.
L-Lysine Functions
Your digestive system breaks down the protein you consume into the amino acids that comprise it, including L-lysine. Besides helping to control symptoms of herpes simplex infections, the specific functions of L-lysine include facilitating absorption of calcium and supporting normal growth. The amino acid also assists your body in creating the nutrient carnitine, which helps to reduce cholesterol levels and to produce energy from fatty acids, and the substance collagen, which enables healthy connective tissue and bones.
Considerations
The majority of individuals get all of the L-lysine their body needs through the relevant foods they consume. If your diet contains an inadequate amount of the amino acid, supplements can provide the needed levels. You should seek guidance from a knowledgeable health care specialist before you use any type of dietary supplement, however, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or diagnosed with liver or kidney disease. Arginine, another essential amino acid, has traits in common with L-lysine. As a result, consuming large amounts of arginine can decrease the levels of L-lysine in your body. Large amounts of dietary L-lysine can lead to gallstones, as well, although health professionals generally consider natural forms of the amino acid safe.
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