Lysine is used for preventing and treating symptoms of recurrent cold sores (herpes simplex labialis), shingles and genital herpes and as an aid to improving athletic performance. Lysine is required for collagen synthesis and it may be important to bone health. Lysine antagonizes herpes simplex virus (HSV) growth. Lysine appears to help the body absorb and conserve calcium.
Published Clinical Studiescl top
1
In vivo antitumor effect of ascorbic acid, lysine, proline and green tea extract on human colon cancer cell HCT 116 xenografts in nude mice: Evaluation of tumor growth and immunohistochemistry.
Roomi MW, Ivanov V, Kalinovsky T, Niedzwiecki A, Rath M.
MRI, Cancer Research Division, 1260 Memorex Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA.
Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the United States. When diagnosed early, current treatments bring a limited success; however, once metastasis occurs, radiation and chemotherapy are generally ineffective. Structural changes in the ECM are necessary for cell migration during tissue remodeling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), VEGF, Ki-67 (proliferative protein), and constituents of ECM, such as fibronectin, play a critical role in angiogenesis and are thus crucial in neoplastic invasion and metastasis. Based on antitumor properties of certain nutrients, we investigated the effect of a diet containing lysine, proline, arginine, ascorbic acid, and green tea extract (NM) on the growth of tumors, induced by implanting human colon HCT 116 cancer cells in athymic nude mice, and the expression of MMPs, VEGF, Ki-67 and fibronectin in these tumors, as well as the production of mucin (by PAS staining). After one week of isolation, 5 to 6 week-old athymic male nude mice (n=12) were inoculated with 3x10(6) colon cancer HCT 116 cells. After injection, the mice were randomly divided into 2 groups; group A was fed a regular diet and group B was fed a regular diet supplemented with 0.5% NM. The mice were sacrificed 4 weeks later, and their tumors were excised, weighed, and processed for histology. Results showed that the nutrient mixture (NM) inhibited growth and reduced the size of tumors in nude mice. Furthermore, histological evaluation revealed increased mitotic index, MMP-9 and VEGF secretion and reduced basement membrane in the control group tissues. Nutrient supplementation strongly suppressed the growth of tumors without any adverse effects in nude mice, suggesting the nutrient combination has potential as an anticancer agent. Histological studies supported these findings by showing inhibition of MMP-9 and VEGF secretion and mitotic index, which are critical parameters for cancer control and prevention.
PMID: 15706410 [PubMed - in process]
2
L-Lysine acts like a partial serotonin receptor 4 antagonist and inhibits serotonin-mediated intestinal pathologies and anxiety in rats.
Smriga M, Torii K.
Ajinomoto Co, Inc., Institute of Life Sciences, Kawasaki 210-8681, Japan. miroslav_smriga@ajinomoto.com
The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether a nutritionally essential amino acid, l-lysine, acts like a serotonin receptor 4 (5-HT4) antagonist, and if l-lysine is beneficial in animal models of serotonin (5-HT)-induced anxiety, diarrhea, ileum contractions, and tachycardia and in stress-induced fecal excretion. The radioligand-binding assay was used to test the binding of l-lysine to various 5-HT receptors. The effects of l-lysine on 5-HT-induced contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum were studied in vitro. The effects of oral administration of l-lysine on diarrhea, stress-induced fecal excretion, and 5-HT-induced corticosterone release, tachycardia, and anxiety (an elevated plus maze paradigm) were studied in rats in vivo. l-Lysine (0.8 mmol/dl) inhibited (9.17%) binding of 5-HT to the 5-HT4 receptor, without any effect on 5-HT1A,2A,2B,2C,3 binding. l-Lysine (0.07 and 0.7 mmol/dl) blocked 5-HT-induced contractions of an isolated guinea pig ileum in vitro (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Orally applied l-lysine (1 g/kg of body weight) inhibited (P < 0.12) diarrhea triggered by coadministration of restraint stress and 5-hydroxytryptophane (10 mg/kg of body weight), and significantly blocked anxiety induced by the 5-HT4 receptor agonist (3.0 mmol/liter) in rats in vivo. No effects of l-lysine or the 5-HT4 receptor agonist on plasma corticosterone and heart rate were recorded. l-Lysine may be a partial 5-HT4 receptor antagonist and suppresses 5-HT4 receptor-mediated intestinal pathologies and anxiety in rats. An increase in nutritional load of l-lysine might be a useful tool in treating stress-induced anxiety and 5-HT-related diarrhea-type intestinal dysfunctions.
PMID: 14676321 [PubMed - in process]
3
A diet fortified with L-lysine and L-arginine reduces plasma cortisol and blocks anxiogenic response to transportation in pigs.
Srinongkote S, Smriga M, Nakagawa K, Toride Y.
Bangkok Animal Research Center, Co. Ltd, Khet Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
We studied the effects of diet fortified with L-lysine HCl (Lys) and L-arginine (Arg) on stress (transportation) responses in male finishing pigs (Landrace x LargeWhite x Duroc). Pigs (n = 16) were randomly divided into two equally sized groups so that the average starting body weight in the groups was identical. For 1 week immediately preceding the transportation, the first group of pigs received a control diet while the second group received a Lys and Arg fortified diet. Plasma aminogram, cortisol and body weight were evaluated. Behavior of pigs was measured with the help of a video camera, recorded for 2 h at the same time, as on the day, before a day and immediately after transportation. The study revealed main stimulatory effects of transportation and main inhibitory effect of Lys and Arg on plasma cortisol (P < 0.05) without transportation x treatment interactions. Pigs fed with Lys and Arg diet tend to have higher body weight at the end of the experiment, when compared to their normally fed counterparts, but the difference did not reach a significant level (P < 0.21). Lys and Arg diet significantly inhibited stress-induced increase in locomotion (P < 0.05), without affecting feeding pattern. Transportation stress decreased plasma Lys and Arg. This decrease was reversed in the fortified group, and what is more the plasma Lys and Arg levels were significantly higher than in controls (P < 0.05). Lys and Arg enhanced plasma urea production (P < 0.05), without regards to stress. The behavioral results indicate a reduction in stress-induced anxiety in pigs fed with Lys and Arg fortified diet, that parallels similar observations in research with rats and broilers. The mechanism probably involves a decreased plasma cortisol, and/or normalized plasma Lys, Arg levels.
PMID: 14609314 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Lysine as a prophylactic agent in the treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis.4
Thein DJ, Hurt WC.
The amino acid lysine is an agent that has been proposed for treating the clinical symptoms of recurrent herpes simplex labialis. This study examined the efficacy of long-term prophylactic lysine supplementation. Twenty-six volunteers with a history of frequently recurring herpetic lesions completed a 12-month double-blind crossovers study. The experimental group received daily oral supplements of 1,000 mg 1-lysine. Serum samples were analyzed at scheduled intervals. In most instances, members of the lysine group reported significantly fewer lesions than the control group. Similarly, those who were taken off lysine supplementation generally showed a significant increase in lesion frequency. Quantitative hematologic measurements revealed the most clinically useful relationship. Data from this sample population indicated that when a person's serum lysine concentration exceeded 165 nmol/ml there was a corresponding significant decrease in recurrence rate. Conversely, the frequency rate increased significantly as concentration levels fell below 165 nmol/ml. These results suggest that prophylactic lysine may be useful in managing selected cases of recurrent herpes simplex labialis if serum lysine levels can be maintained at adequate concentrations.
Publication Types:
PMID: 6438572 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5
Lysine prophylaxis in recurrent herpes simplex labialis: a double-blind, controlled crossover study.
Milman N, Scheibel J, Jessen O.
L-lysine has an inhibitory effect on the multiplication of herpes simplex virus in cell cultures. We have evaluated the prophylactic effect of L-lysine monohydrochloride 1000 mg daily on recurrent herpes simplex labialis in 65 patients in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. After 12 weeks of lysine treatment the patients shifted to placebo treatment for a similar period. On the whole, lysine prophylaxis had no effect on the recurrence rate of herpes simplex. However, significantly more patients were recurrence-free during lysine than during placebo treatment (p = 0.05), suggesting that certain patients may benefit from prophylactic lysine administration. In the herpes lesions described, lysine had no effect on the rate of healing or on the appearance of the lesions at their worst.
Publication Types:
PMID: 6153847 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
[Effect of L-lysine-a-oxidase on reproduction of herpes simplex type I virus in vitro]6
Smirnova IP, Diorditsa SV, Alekseev SB, Zaitsev IZ.
Department of Biochemistry, Russian Peoples Friendship University.
L-lysin-a-oxidase (LO), a fungal enzyme catalysing oxidative deamination of L-lysin, was used for the inhibition of the reproduction of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Antiviral activity of LO was tested in vitro. The expression of viral antigens and CPE of HSV-1 was inhibited by LO at a concentration 0.7 mg/ml.
PMID: 9845927 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
The metabolic roles, pharmacology, and toxicology of lysine.7
Flodin NW.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile 36688, USA.
L-lysine monohydrochloride (LMH) is widely available to the public as a nonprescription oral supplement. Most of the pharmaceutical-grade product is used as a suppressant of recurrent herpes simplex infections. Recent publications indicate the possibility of other therapeutic uses, e.g., in cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. These and other potential applications are surveyed and evaluated in this review with suggestions for further study. Data on toxicity are reviewed and recommendations made regarding safety of chronic dosage levels.
Publication Types:
PMID: 9013429 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Effect of L-lysine monohydrochloride on cutaneous herpes simplex virus in the guinea pig.8
Ayala E, Krikorian D.
Department of Clinical Investigation, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6200.
The effect of topical applications of crystalline lysine therapy on cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) inoculations and subsequent dorsal root ganglia (DRG) infection was studied in male Hartley guinea pigs. Although HSV-I was recovered from the inoculated sites from all animals, the L-lysine-treated skin remained clinically normal, whereas untreated controls manifested clinical symptoms up to 3 days postinoculation (p.i.). However, cocultivation of DRG (C1-S1) indicated a selective tropism of infective particles to specific DRG in the groups treated with amino acids. In lysine-treated animals, HSV was recovered from a few DRG (T-12, T-13, and L-1) at 3 days p.i. and from DRG T-10 in leucine-treated controls; yet no HSV was recovered from DRG of untreated controls. These results suggest an immunomodulatory effect of L-lysine on inoculation site infections and the possible potentiation of subsequent DRG manifestation in amino-acid-treated animals.
PMID: 2542441 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Assessment of dietary intake of lysine and arginine in patients with herpes simplex.9
Algert SJ, Stubblefield NE, Grasse BJ, Shragg GP, Connor JD.
Clinical Research Center, University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
In this study, dietary intake of the amino acids lysine and arginine did not differ significantly between normal controls and patients with herpes virus. Both groups of subjects consumed significantly more lysine than arginine on a daily basis. Those results are not surprising given the American population's preference for high lysine foods, such as meat and dairy products, as opposed to foods high in arginine, such as legumes, whole grains, and nuts. The mean daily intakes of lysine and arginine for the 16 subjects studied were 8.11 gm +/- 2.28 and 6.32 gm +/- 1.74, respectively. The standard deviations of the mean intakes indicate that there is a large variability in the intake of both amino acids and the ratios of the two amino acids in individual diets. This information is important, considering the conflicting results obtained previously by researchers investigating the efficacy of lysine therapy for herpes infections. The extent of the variability in total amino acid intake or ratio of lysine to arginine in the diet cannot be determined from previous studies. More important, the possible effects of these ranges on the interpretation of study results remain unknown. In order for future studies to accurately determine the effects of supplemental lysine in the treatment of herpes infections, close monitoring of dietary intake is essential.
PMID: 3117869 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10
Success of L-lysine therapy in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Treatment and prophylaxis.
Griffith RS, Walsh DE, Myrmel KH, Thompson RW, Behforooz A.
Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of oral L-lysine monohydrochloride for the prevention and treatment of recurrent herpes simplex (HSV) infection was conducted. The treatment group was given L-Lysine monohydrochloride tablets (1,000 mg L-lysine per dose) 3 times a day for 6 months. A total of 27 (6 male and 21 female) subjects on L-lysine and 25 (6 male and 19 female) subjects on placebo completed the trial. The L-lysine treatment group had an average of 2.4 (p less than 0.05) less HSV infections, symptoms were significantly (p less than 0.05) diminished in severity and healing time was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05). L-Lysine appears to be an effective agent for reduction of occurrence, severity and healing time for recurrent HSV infection.
Publication Types:
PMID: 3115841 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Relation of arginine-lysine antagonism to herpes simplex growth in tissue culture.11
Griffith RS, DeLong DC, Nelson JD.
In the studies conducted, arginine deficiency suppressed herpes simplex virus replication in tissue culture. Lysine, an analog of arginine, as an antimetabolite, antagonized the viral growth-promoting action of arginine. The in vitro data may be the basis for the observation that patients prone to herpetic lesions and other related viral infections, particularly during periods of stress, should abstain from arginine excess and may also require supplemental lysine in their diet.
PMID: 6262023 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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