lysine

Lysine is an essential amino acid that humans must obtain through diet or supplementation. In clinical and therapeutic contexts, it is most frequently utilized as a nutraceutical for the management and prevention of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) outbreaks, particularly cold sores. The primary mechanism of action involves the competitive antagonism of arginine; HSV requires arginine-rich proteins for its replication cycle. By increasing the systemic lysine-to-arginine ratio, lysine supplementation is thought to inhibit viral protein synthesis and suppress viral growth. While widely used and available over-the-counter, clinical evidence regarding its efficacy for HSV remains mixed, and it is generally classified as a dietary supplement rather than a primary pharmaceutical antiviral.

Brand names

Super Lysine PlusL-Lysine 500 mgL-Lysine500 mgL-Lysine-500 mgSolgar L-LysineNow L-Lysine

Other names

L-lysine(S)-2,6-diaminohexanoic acidLys