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L-Lysine Research & Evidence

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Evidence Level

Moderate

L-Lysine is most notable for its antiviral properties against HSV. The Griffith et al. (1987) RCT showed significant reduction in herpes recurrence at 3 g/day. The mechanism involves competitive inhibition of arginine, which HSV requires for replication. Beyond antiviral use, lysine supports collagen formation and calcium metabolism. Evidence quality is moderate — many studies are older and relatively small.

Evidence by Condition

ConditionStudied DoseEvidence
Herpes simplex prevention1 g three times daily during outbreaks; 500-1000 mg daily for preventionModerate
Collagen support500-1000 mg dailyModerate
Calcium absorption400-800 mg dailyModerate
Full L-Lysine Guide

References

  1. (). Success of L-lysine therapy in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Dermatologica. DOI
  2. (). Dietary L-lysine and calcium metabolism in humans. Nutrition.
  3. (). Oral treatment with L-lysine and L-arginine reduces anxiety and basal cortisol levels in healthy humans. Biomedical Research. DOI