About Lysine
L-Lysine is an essential amino acid the body cannot synthesize. Best clinical evidence is for herpes simplex virus (HSV) prophylaxis — a 1987 RCT (52 participants, 3g/day for 6 months) showed significant reduction in recurrence rate, severity, and healing time vs placebo. Also essential for collagen synthesis and calcium absorption. May support immune function through effects on antibody production. Evidence for cold sore prevention is moderate; other claims (anxiety, bone health) have limited human data.
What Lysine supports
- May reduce herpes simplex recurrence and severity
- Essential for collagen synthesis and tissue repair
- Supports calcium absorption and bone health
How much Lysine to take
The RDA prevents deficiency. The effective range is what clinical trials used to actually move the outcome.
Effective
1000–3000
mg
Herpes simplex prophylaxis studies use 1–3 g/day. Collagen synthesis support at 500–1000 mg/day.
Clinical evidence
Moderate clinical evidence. One well-designed clinical trial (52 participants) showed reduced herpes simplex recurrence at 3g/day
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