What is the amino acid Lysine for?
To begin, what is the amino acid Lysine used for? Lysine is necessary for protein synthesis and plays an important role in the production of collagen, an essential protein for the health of the skin, hair, nails and connective tissue. In addition, lysine also aids in the absorption of calcium. >> Learn more about Collagen >>
And answering the question in our article: What is the amino acid Lysine used for? Lysine is a very important amino acid for the body, as it has an antiviral action that helps fight viral infections and also facilitates the absorption of calcium. However, this amino acid is not produced by the human body, which means it needs to be ingested through food.
Foods rich in lysine are:
Mainly milk, soy and meat. The consumption of this type of food is especially recommended for people with herpes, because it helps to reduce the replication of the herpes simplex virus, reducing its recurrence, severity and recovery time.
Lysine found in food may not be sufficient for the treatment of viral infections or for the prevention of osteoporosis, for example, and therefore, supplementation of this amino acid may be recommended according to the treatment objective.
Lysine is used to:
Fight viral infections, such as herpes, as it has antiviral properties;
Assist in the treatment of osteoporosis, as it helps to increase calcium absorption; >>Learn more about osteoporosis >>
Help in the development of bones and muscles in children, as it participates in the activity of the growth hormone.
Lysine is also a component of the medication ketoprofen lysinate, which is indicated for diseases such as osteoarthritis, periarthritis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, acute articular rheumatism, low back pain, tendonitis, neuritis, muscle strain, contusions, and also provides pain relief in dental surgeries, menstrual cramps, orthopedic surgery and other traumatic and post-operative conditions.
Foods rich in Lysine
The amount of lysine in 100 g of each food:Whole milk 264 mg
Skimmed milk – 276 mg
Mozzarella cheese – 965 mg
Cooked soybeans – 1110 mg
Turkey meat – 2290 mg
Grilled beef steak – 1540 mg
Cooked chicken without fat – 2300 mg
Cooked peas – 602 mg
Baked trout – 2100 mg
Food Amount of lysine in – 100 g
Whole milk – 264 mg
Skimmed milk – 276 mg
Mozzarella cheese – 965 mg
Cooked soybeans – 1110 mg
Turkey meat – 2290 mg
Grilled beef steak – 1540 mg
Cooked chicken without fat – 2300 mg
Cooked peas – 602 mg
Trout roasted – 2100 mg
Cooked lupin – 823 mg
Boiled egg – 904 mg
Recommended daily amount
The recommended daily amount of lysine is approximately 30 mg per kg of body weight. A 70 kg adult needs to consume around 2100 mg of lysine per day, for example.
Lysine can be easily obtained through the ingestion of foods rich in protein. However, depending on the diet, the amount may not be sufficient, in which case supplementation with this amino acid may be advised.
In the case of using a lysine supplement to help treat herpes, 500 mg per day may be recommended to suppress the virus, or 1000 to 6000 mg per day in cases of recurrent herpes.