Benefits of lysine (L-lysine) in IV therapy

Benefits of lysine (L-lysine) in IV therapy

Lysine is an essential amino acid; an organic compound molecule used to make proteins and synthesize hormones. Think of amino acids like chemical building blocks. Essential amino acids cannot be created in the body and have to be obtained through diet and supplements.

IV infusion is an ideal way to deliver lysine and other nutrients because they go straight into the bloodstream for immediate delivery to all your cells (compared to absorption through the digestive tract, which is not as efficient).

Lysine vs L-Lysine

The names lysine and l-lysine are used interchangeably and refer to the same amino acid.

Technically speaking, l-lysine is the specific form of lysine your body can absorb and use. L-lysine is naturally occurring, biologically active and used as an ingredient in some of our IV formulas (we can also custom make formulas based on your health goals).

What is lysine good for?

Lysine is needed for a range of bodily functions and overall health.

Lysine:

• Aids absorption of important minerals like calcium, zinc, and iron
• Promotes collagen production
• Is used to synthesize antibodies, enzymes, and hormones
• Supports immune system function

Lysine is also used to treat several health conditions including:

• Cold sores (herpes simplex virus)
• Shingles
• Osteoporosis
• High blood pressure

In addition, lysine has important benefits for skin, hair, muscle growth and stress relief.

Lysine and viral infections

To understand how lysine helps fight viral infections, we need to talk about arginine, another amino acid.

Viruses (like herpes and the common cold virus) need arginine to replicate. Lysine has an antagonistic relationship with arginine and reduces its ability to fuel viral reproduction.

Studies have shown that in tandem with a low-arginine diet, lysine supplementation can help prevent and treat viral infections by blocking the arginine viruses use to thrive.

Lysine benefits for skin and hair

Lysine is one of the compounds your body uses to produce collagen, the protein responsible for keeping your skin firm and supple. Lysine also plays a critical role in wound healing.²

Lysine is found in the roots of hair and plays a role in the shape and volume of hair growth. Being deficient in lysine can cause hair loss. Getting plenty of lysine assists with iron absorption, a key mineral for hair growth. Scalp is skin, so lysine also contributes to a healthy scalp which is essential if you want beautiful hair.

Lysine benefits for stress and anxiety

The connection between lysine and anxiety has been studied at length, mainly focusing on the relationship between lysine deficiency and increased anxiety.

Lysine helps reduce anxiety by blocking certain receptors involved in hormonal stress response. In one double blind randomized study of 108 healthy adults, research concluded that taking lysine and arginine supplements for just one week significantly reduced anxiety levels.

Lysine benefits for athletes

Lysine is a great supplement for athletes because it can help muscle tissue repair itself faster, which reduces recovery time and muscle soreness between workouts.

References:

1. Venthan J. Mailoo, BSc(Hons) and Sanketh Rampes. Lysine for Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of the Evidence [PMC free article] 2017 
2. Spallotta F, Cencioni C, Straino S, Sbardella G, Castellano S, Capogrossi MC, Martelli F, Gaetano C. Enhancement of lysine acetylation accelerates wound repair. Commun Integr Biol. 2013;6:e25466. doi: 10.4161/cib.25466. [PMC free article] 2013 
3. Smriga M., Ando T., Akutsu M., Furukawa Y., Miwa K., Morinaga Y. Oral treatment with l-lysine and L-arginine reduces anxiety and basal cortisol levels in healthy humans. Biomed. Res. 2007;28:85–90. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.28.85. – DOI – [PMC free article]