Lysine For Atherosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis, is a cardiovascular disease that progresses slowly. Although this disease may have serious consequences, most people don’t experience any symptoms until the affected arteries become about 40 percent clogged, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although the amino acid lysine may help with atherosclerosis, study results are mixed. Consult your doctor before attempting to treat atherosclerosis with any nutritional supplement, including lysine.

Atherosclerosis

The buildup of plaque along the inner walls of your arteries can cause your arteries to clog and harden. Depending on the amount and location of the plaque, this clogging can restrict the amount of oxygenated blood that reaches your limbs and vital organs. Symptoms of atherosclerosis include weakness, perspiration, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, sudden severe headache and hair loss. Although the exact cause of atherosclerosis remains unknown, certain factors can make this condition worse. These factors include diabetes, high blood pressure and an accumulation of homocysteine, a type of amino acid.

Lysine

Lysine is an essential amino acid that you must obtain from food sources or supplements. Lysine helps your body produce carnitine, a type of nutrient that helps lower your cholesterol levels and metabolizes fat into energy. Lysine also helps form collagen, the substance that supports the health of your connective tissues. Most people obtain adequate amounts of lysine through a balanced diet. Most adults and children over the age of 13 require about 12 milligrams of lysine per day. Too much arginine, another type of amino acid, may lower the amount of lysine in your body. A lysine deficiency can cause dizziness, agitation, anemia and fatigue.

Research

Some research indicates that lysine may help prevent injury to arterial cells by inhibiting the formation of carbamylated lipoproteins, a type of cholesterol that may cause damage to your arterial walls, according to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Another study conducted by Tufts University in Boston found that increasing or decreasing the ratio of lysine to arginine in the body through dietary measures produced insignificant changes in cardiovascular risk factors. More research is necessary to determine the potential benefits and risks of using lysine to treat or prevent atherosclerosis.

Precautions

Seek medical treatment for symptoms of atherosclerosis. Lysine is not a standard or customary treatment in atherosclerosis, due to the limited research supporting its benefits in the area of cardiovascular health. Although most people can safely consume foods that contain lysine, too much lysine may increase your risk of developing gallstones.