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Quest Vitamins LTD, |
L-lysineDESCRIPTIONL-lysine is an essential amino acid that occurs naturally as part of food proteins and cannot be manufactured by the body. It is usually the limiting factor in the biological availability of vegetable proteins and this means that vegetarians (and especially vegans) have to plan their diets carefully in order not to suffer from a deficiency of L-lysine. FUNCTIONSL-lysine is an important structural component of many proteins. It is also directly involved in the production of L-carnitine, which is required for the transport, and utilisation of fats. Lysine is needed to make the non-essential amino acid, carnitine, involved in fat transportation. Two other roles in which L-lysine is involved are retention of Calcium within the body and maintenance of the Immune System (1). SUPPLEMENTAL USESCold Sores: Vegans: Osteoporosis: SAFETYToxicity of L-lysine has not been reported with levels as high as 8g per day. INTERACTIONS AND CONTRA-INDICATIONSThere are no known drug interactions or other contra-indications for L-lysine. N.B. L-lysine is unstable and has to be presented as L-lysine hydrochloride (HCl) in supplements. REFERENCES1. Flodin NW. The metabolic roles, pharacology, and toxicology of lysine. J Am Coll Nutr, 16;1:7-21 1997. | ![]() |