What is the recommended dose of L-Lysine?

- **Look for:** L-lysine HCl; 500-1,000mg per capsule; free-form amino acid - **Avoid:** D-lysine; products with added arginine (counterproductive for HSV); very low doses (<250mg) - **Minimum effe...

Is L-Lysine safe to take daily?

L-Lysine is rated "Generally Safe" based on clinical evidence. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

LOADINGLoading your Pro surface...

Ingredient Research

Graded against 173,636 supplements + 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD

L-Lysine

MODERATE EVIDENCEAmino AcidLast updated

AVELOR SUMMARY

L-lysine is an essential amino acid with two primary supplemental uses: (1) herpes simplex virus (HSV) outbreak prevention (the most popular use), and (2) calcium absorption enhancement. The HSV mechanism is elegant: lysine competes with arginine for absorption and cellular entry, and HSV requires arginine for replication. By shifting the lysine:arginine ratio, viral replication is suppressed. A meta-analysis found 1g+/day reduced HSV recurrence rate by 25-50%. Our research also shows lysine is essential for collagen synthesis (lysyl oxidase cross-links collagen), making it relevant for wound healing and connective tissue.

WHAT IT DOES

For HSV: the virus requires arginine for capsid protein synthesis and DNA replication. Lysine and arginine compete for the same intestinal transporter (CAT-1) and cellular entry mechanisms. High lysine intake (1) reduces arginine absorption, (2) reduces arginine entry into cells, (3) increases arginase activity (breaking down intracellular arginine). The net effect: reduced intracellular arginine starves the virus of a replication requirement. For collagen: lysine residues in procollagen are hydroxylated by lysyl hydroxylase (vitamin C-dependent) and then oxidatively cross-linked by lysyl oxidase (copper-dependent), forming the structural cross-links that give collagen tensile strength.

OPTIMAL DOSAGE

Look for: L-lysine HCl; 500-1,000mg per capsule; free-form amino acid
Avoid: D-lysine; products with added arginine (counterproductive for HSV); very low doses (<250mg)
Minimum effective dose: 1,000mg/day for HSV prevention
Third-party tested brands: NOW Foods, Quantum Health (Super Lysine+), Thorne, Life Extension

Scan a supplement containing L-Lysine

SAFETY PROFILE

Critical Interactions (Do Not Combine Without Medical Supervision)

No critical interactions identified.

Moderate Interactions (Monitor Closely)

Theoretical/Low-Risk Interactions

RELATED RESEARCH

5-HTP5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is an amino acid naturally produced in the body from

Acetyl-L-CarnitineMeta-analysis of 21 double-blind RCTs found significant cognitive improvement in MCI and early Alzhe

L-ArginineMeta-analysis of 11 RCTs: arginine reduced systolic BP by 5.39 mmHg and diastolic by 2.66 mmHg at do

BCAAs / EAAs

Scan Your L-Lysine Supplement Browse all ingredients

Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:

Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.

Discover More

Explore

Browse All 834 Ingredients Browse All 20 Conditions