Lysine

An Amino Acid

Description:

Lysine is an essential amino acid, highly concentrated in muscles and is degraded to acetyl CoA, citrulline and homoarginine. Lysine is also a precursor of carnitine and citrulline.

Plants/Foods:

• Beef
• Brewer's yeast
• Cheese
• Chicken
• Fish
• Lamb
• Meats
• Pork
• Wheat germ
• Yogurt

Physiologic Functions:

• Aids in formation of antibodies
• Improves calcium assimilation
• Stops growth of herpes simplex

Clinical Indications:

• Aphthous stomatitis
• Herpes simplex
• Osteoporosis
• May be helpful with Bell's palsy

Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency:

• Anemia
• Enzyme disorders
• Kidney stones
• Reduced ability to think

Causes of Deficiencies:

• High stress
• Inborn errors of lysine metabolism
• Low dietary intake, i.e. vegan
• Malnutrition

Contraindications:

• Kidney disease
• Liver disease

Toxicity and Side Effects:

• Large doses increase kidney toxicity of aminoglycoside antibiotics
• Large doses of lysine may cause arginine deficiency

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).