Lysine

Lysine is one of the essential amino acids. It is a building block of protein that the body cannot synthesize from other materials and, therefore, must be obtained from our diet. Different proteins have different ratios of amino acids including essential and non-essential amino acids.

Lysine, Herpes and Viral Infections

Lysine supplements and diets high in lysine and low in arginine have been used to discourage herpes outbreaks. Tissue culture studies have demonstrated that lysine inhibits viral replication. Analysis of the herpes simplex virons shows them to be rich in arginine and relatively lower in other essential amino acids including lysine. It appears that increasing the availability of lysine inhibits the utilization of arginine and slows virus replication. Experiments using Lysine supplements have shown that the intensity and frequency of outbreaks is reduced and quicker resolution of lesions is achieved.

p The dosage of lysine required to keep herpes in remission and heal lesions varies from person o person. A typical dose to maintain remission has been found to be approximately 500 mg. daily taken on an empty stomach between meals. The dosage required to induce healing has been found to be between 1 and 6 grams between meals on an empty stomach. Lysine alone may not be sufficient to prevent herpes outbreaks on some individuals. Lysine can be used in combination with other supplements or medication to more effectively manage a herpes infection.

Lysine and Coronary Heart Disease

Lysine is one component of a protocol proposed by Linus Pauling for the treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease. Lipoprotein(a) is an altered form of LDL cholesterol was found to be a key component in blood clots, plaque formation and coronary heart disease. Lipoprotein(a) has a structure nearly identical to plasminogen, a protein that forms plasmin. Normally, Plasmin helps dissolve fibrin. Unfortunately, lipoprotein(a) inhibits the breakdown of fibrin by competing with plasminogen.

Pauling and Rath proposed that lipoprotein(a) acted as a surrogate (replacement) for vitamin C and that a deficiency of vitamin C resulted in the increased production of lipoprotein(a) which both hardened the arteries and caused blood clots . Linus Pauling recommended the use of high doses of pure vitamin C and lysine to both prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.

Linus Pauling Therapy for the Reversal of Heart Disease

Vitamin C: to bowel tolerance - as much as you can take without diarrhea. For most people this will be in the range of five to ten grams (5,000-10,000 mg.) each day. Spread this amount into several equal doses 4 or more hours apart. Vitamin C salts, Linke in BalanCe, are more easily tolerated and less prone to cause diarrhea in high doses. Vitamin C prevents further cracking of the blood vessel wall.

L-Proline: 3 grams twice per day. Proline acts to release lipoprotein(a) from plaque formations and prevent further deposition of plaque in the arterial walls.

L-Lysine: 3 grams twice each day. Lysine acts to release lipoprotein(a) from plaque formations and prevent further deposition of of plaque in the arterial walls.

Co-enzyme Q10: 90-180 mg. twice per day. Co-enzyme Q10 strengthens the heart muscle.

L-Carnitine: 3 grams twice per day. L-Carnitine also strengthens the heart muscle and aids in metabolizing fat into energy.

Niacin: Decreases production of lipoprotein(a) in the liver. Inositol hexanicotinate is a form of niacin which gives less of a problem with flushing and therefore allows for larger therapeutic doses. Begin with 250 mg. at lunch, 500 mg. at dinner and 500 mg. at bedtime the first day; then increase gradually over a few days until you reach four grams per day, or the highest dose under four grams you can tolerate. Be sure to ask your doctor for liver enzyme level tests every two months or less to be sure your liver is able to handle the dose you are taking.

Vitamin E: 800-2400 IU per day. Vitamin E Inhibits proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the walls of arteries undergoing the atherosclerotic changes.

Lysine

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Here are some recommended Lysine Supplementss.

L-Lysine

(Life Extension Foundation Product Links )

Lysine References

(1) Kagan, C. "Lysine Therapy for Herpes Simplex", The Lancet, 1:137 26 Jan 1974

(2) Griffith, R.S., "A Multicentered Study of Lysine Therapy in Herpes Simplex Infection", Determatologica 156:257-267 (1978)

(3) Griffith, R.S., "Success of L-Lysine Therapy in Frequent Recurrent Herpes Simplex Infection", Determatologica 175:183-190 (1987)

(4) Olshevsky, V., Becher V. Virology 1970, 40, 948

(5) Kaplan, A.S., Shimano, H., Ben-Porat, T. ibid p. 90.

(6) White AL; Lanford RE. Cell surface assembly of lipoprotein(a) in primary cultures of baboon hepatocytes. J Biol Chem 1994 Nov 18;269(46):28716-23.

(7) Klezovitch O; Edelstein C; Scanu AM. Evidence that the fibrinogen binding domain of Apo(a) is outside the lysine binding site of kringle IV-10: a study involving naturally occurring lysine binding defective lipoprotein(a) phenotypes. J Clin Invest 1996 Jul 1;98(1):185-91.

(8) Boonmark NW; Lou XJ; Yang ZJ; Schwartz K; Zhang JL; Rubin EM; Lawn RM. Modification of apolipoprotein(a) lysine binding site reduces atherosclerosis in transgenic mice. J Clin Invest 1997 Aug 1;100(3):558-64.

(9) Phillips J; Roberts G; Bolger C; el Baghdady A; Bouchier-Hayes D; Farrell M; Collins P. Lipoprotein (a): a potential biological marker for unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Neurosurgery 1997 May;40(5):1112-5; discussion 1115-7.

(10) Stubbs P; Seed M; Moseley D; O�Connor B; Collinson P; Noble M. A prospective study of the role of lipoprotein(a) in the pathogenesis of unstable angina. Eur Heart J 1997 Apr;18(4):603-7.

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