Lysine
An essential amino acid for healthy nitrogen balance and much more.
What is Lysine?
Being an essential amino acid means your body needs lysine but cannot produce it; you must get it from food or supplements. It is important for promotion of proper nitrogen balance in your body, supporting tissue growth, repair, and muscle maintenance.
Lysine is a component of multiple proteins in the body, which makes it a multi-functional nutrient with many important functions.
Lysine Benefits
Among its potential health benefits, lysine supplementation:
- Lysine has been shown to increase calcium absorption and retention
- It is a key building block for proteins, helping with muscle growth and repair.
- Lysine may have anti-viral effects (when blocking the activity of arginine) and support immune function
- It interacts with other amino acids to maintain growth and lean body mass
- The essential amino acid helps maintain your body’s store of nitrogen
- Lysine supports collagen formation, important for skin, bones, and connective tissue
That is why vegetarians, whose diet lack of optimal amounts of beans, can become lysine deficient. Most diets provide the right amount of amino acids, even for athletes who are involved in frequent vigorous exercise.
