Lysine is an essential amino acid. The human body cannot make lysine, so it must be eaten in the diet. Sources include meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.
Lysine is a building block for making proteins in the body. It might also prevent the herpes virus from growing.
People use lysine for cold sores, canker sores, athletic performance, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Uses & Effectiveness?
Possibly Effective for
Cold sores (herpes labialis). Taking lysine by mouth might help prevent and heal cold sores. It’s not clear if applying it to the skin helps.
There is interest in using lysine for a number of other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
When taken by mouth: Lysine is possibly safe for most people when taken in doses up to 3000 mg daily for up to one year.
When applied to the skin: Lysine is possibly safe for most people when used short-term. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if lysine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
