Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by
Lysine for weight gain? As a bodybuilder, you’ve heard it all. The mainstream media bombards the masses with the newer, latest, and greatest supplements on the market to help you build muscle and stay ripped year round.
Lysine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is found in many foods. You can also buy it in tablet form and take it as a dietary supplement. Taking lysine supplements might be beneficial for people with certain medical conditions, such as herpes, shingles or cold sores. Many people take lysine supplements to support the immune system. Others take large doses of the supplements for weight gain. They believe that taking high dosages of lysine (2 to 3 grams per day) can promote weight gain by increasing lean muscle mass and decreasing body fat. However, you should discuss taking high dosages of this supplement with your doctor before doing so. If you want to know more about Lower Body Workout For Weight Gain, make sure you read this article.
Lysine For Weight Gain

Lysine is a building block for protein. It’s an essential amino acid because your body cannot make it, so you need to obtain it from food.
It’s important for normal growth and muscle turnover and used to form carnitine, a substance found in most cells of your body. What’s more, it helps transport fats across your cells to be burned for energy.
L-lysine is the form of lysine your body can utilize. It’s naturally found in food and is the type used in supplements.
Here are 4 impressive health benefits of lysine.

1. May Protect Against and Treat Cold Sores by Blocking Arginine
Cold sores or fever blisters are symptoms of an infection, often appearing on the lip or the corners of your mouth.
They appear as fluid-filled blisters that can cause discomforts, such as tingling, pain and burning. Plus, they may make you feel self-conscious about your appearance.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which can hide in your spine. In times of stress or if your immune system is weakened, HSV-1 can trigger the development of a cold sore (1Trusted Source).
Lysine supplements may help prevent HSV-1 from replicating and reduce the duration of a cold sore. It’s thought that lysine blocks another amino acid called arginine, which HSV-1 needs in order to multiply ( (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
One study found that a daily supplement of 1,000 mg of lysine resulted in fewer cold sores in 26 people who were prone to recurrent cold sores.
Interestingly, the study observed reduced cold sore breakouts when a person’s blood lysine measure was kept above 165 nmol/l. When blood levels dropped below this level, cold sore breakouts increased (4Trusted Source).
Another study in 30 people found that applying a cream with lysine, herbs, vitamins and zinc cleared cold sores in 40% of people by day three and in 87% by day six.
Though this study is promising, it did not state the amount of lysine or other ingredients used in the cream (1Trusted Source).
Furthermore, not all studies show that lysine is effective in reducing cold sore occurrence or duration. One review found insufficient evidence to recommend it for treating cold sores (5Trusted Source).
Summary Some
studies show that lysine can reduce the duration and frequency of cold sores,
but the evidence is inconsistent.
2. May Reduce Anxiety by Blocking Stress Response Receptors
Lysine may play a role in reducing anxiety.
One study found that it blocked receptors involved in stress response. Researchers observed that rats given lysine had reduced rates of stress-induced loose bowel movements (6Trusted Source).
A one-week study in 50 healthy people noticed that supplementing with 2.64 grams of lysine and arginine lowered stress-induced anxiety and reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol (7Trusted Source).
Similarly, adding 4.2 grams of lysine per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of wheat flour in deprived villages in Syria helped reduce anxiety scores in males with very high stress levels (8Trusted Source).
After three months, consuming the lysine-enriched flour also helped reduce cortisol levels in women (8Trusted Source).
Lysine may also be able to help people with schizophrenia, a mental disorder that disrupts an individual’s perception of the outside world, often resulting in an inability to understand reality.
Though research is still in its early stages, lysine may have the potential to improve schizophrenia symptoms in combination with prescribed medication (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).
Summary Lysine
may help reduce feelings of anxiety and reduce levels of the stress hormone
cortisol in some people. Early research indicates that it may even help improve
symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
3. May Improve Calcium Absorption and Retention
Lysine may help your body hold on to calcium (11, 12Trusted Source).
It’s believed that lysine increases calcium absorption in your gut and helps your kidneys to hold on to the mineral (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
A study in 30 women, 15 healthy and 15 with osteoporosis, found that supplementing with calcium and lysine reduced the loss of calcium in the urine.
The women given 3 grams of calcium alone had a progressive increase in calcium in their urine. However, the women who also received 400 mg of lysine lost less calcium through their urine (14Trusted Source).
Lysine appears to protect your bones and may also play a part in controlling whereto calcium is transported in your body.
For example, it has been shown to prevent the buildup of calcium in blood vessels in rats. This kind of buildup is a risk factor for heart disease (13Trusted Source).
Furthermore, one test-tube study found that cells that were grown without lysine had an increased movement of calcium out of the cell. This increase did not occur in the cells that had lysine present (11).
Summary Lysine
may help you absorb more calcium and reduce the loss of calcium in your urine.
It could even reduce the risk of calcium buildup in your blood vessels.
4. Can Promote Wound Healing by Helping Create Collagen
Lysine can improve wound healing in your body.
In animal tissue, lysine becomes more active at the site of a wound and helps speed up the repair process (15Trusted Source).
Lysine is required for the formation of collagen, a protein that acts as a scaffold and helps support and give structure to skin and bones (16Trusted Source).
Lysine itself may also act as a binding agent, thereby increasing the number of new cells at a wound. It may even promote the formation of new blood vessels (17Trusted Source).
In one animal study, a combination of lysine and the amino acid arginine was able to speed up and improve the healing process of fractures (18Trusted Source).
In another study in 40 rabbits, it was found that 21 mg per pound (47 mg per kg) of body weight of lysine and 23 mg per pound (50 mg per kg) of body weight of arginine significantly improved blood flow and overall bone healing.
In fact, rabbits that received lysine and arginine had a 2-week reduced healing time compared to the control group (12Trusted Source).
Wound healing is a complex process that requires different minerals, vitamins and other factors. Lysine appears to have an invaluable role, and without adequate lysine, wound healing is impaired (19Trusted Source).
To date, studies have only looked at oral supplements on wound healing and it’s unknown whether applying it directly onto wounds could be effective.
However, one study found that applying a gel containing lysine to an ulcer wound resulted in reduced infection and faster healing time than when no gel was used (20Trusted Source).
Summary Lysine
is essential for the formation of collagen, an essential protein that affects
wound repair. Animal studies indicate that lysine may speed up wound healing
and reduce recovery time.
Other Potential Benefits

Lysine — like all amino acids — is used as a building block for protein in your body. These proteins help produce hormones, immune cells and enzymes.
Lysine may have several benefits in addition to those discussed earlier.
Here are other areas where lysine may benefit your health:
- Cancer: One animal study
found that lysine in combination with the antioxidant catechin reduced
cancer cell growth in mice (21Trusted Source). - Eye Health: A study in rats
with diabetes found that lysine supplements could prevent the development
of cataract (22Trusted Source). - Diabetes: One study showed
that lysine may help reduce blood sugar response in people
with diabetes. However, the connection is still unclear (23Trusted Source). - Blood Pressure: A study in 50 adults with lysine
deficiency and high blood pressure found that lysine supplements
significantly reduced blood pressure (24Trusted Source)
Adequate lysine is essential for maintaining normal health and supplements may benefit certain people and conditions.
Summary Research
of lysine is promising, as some evidence indicates that it may have anti-cancer
effects, help improve blood sugar levels and reduce blood pressure.
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Top Food Sources and Supplements
Lysine is found in foods that are naturally high in protein, particularly meat and dairy products, and also in smaller amounts in plant foods (25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source).
Here are some great sources of lysine:
- Meat: Beef, chicken
and lamb - Seafood: Mussels, prawns
and oysters - Fish: Salmon, cod, and
tuna - Dairy: Milk, cheese
and yogurt - Vegetables: Potatoes,
peppers and leek - Fruits: Avocado, dried
apricots and pears - Legumes: Soy, kidney
beans and chickpeas - Nuts and seeds: Macadamia, pumpkin seeds and cashews
Cereals are generally a poor source. However, quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat contain a decent amount of lysine (25). Trusted Source
If you’re prone to cold sores, taking 1 gram of lysine daily or using a lysine-containing gel may be worth a try, but remember that it’s best to speak to your healthcare professional first (4Trusted Source).
Summary Animal
foods, such as meat, fish and dairy, supply the greatest amount of lysine, but
you will also find decent amounts in plant foods, such as potatoes, avocados
and soy products.
Lysine is an essential amino acid with many benefits that range from preventing cold sores to reducing anxiety and promoting wound healing.
As a building block of proteins, it may also have numerous other benefits. Without enough lysine, your body may be unable to produce sufficient or appropriate hormones and immune cells.
Lysine is found in high amounts in meat, fish and dairy, but legumes, fruit and vegetables also contribute to your intake.
L-lysine for shingles
If you’re among the growing number of Americans affected by shingles, you may decide to take L-lysine supplements, a long-standing natural remedy.
Lysine is a naturally occurring building block for protein. This makes it a necessary part of a balanced diet. L-lysine refers to the dietary supplement. It’s thought that L-lysine can help relieve cold sores.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes cold sores. HSV-1 is under the same umbrella of viruses as the virus that causes shingles. This virus is called the varicella-zoster virus. It’s the same virus that causes chickenpox.
After a bout of chickenpox, this virus is dormant in the body. The virus can then reemerge, usually years later, as shingles.
While L-lysine is said to relieve cold sores, there’s no evidence to support its treatment of shingles.
What are the benefits of L-lysine?
Pros
- Lysine supplementation may lead to lower levels of stress or anxiety.
- It may also prevent cold sores from developing.
- It may even help your body retain more calcium.
An L-lysine regimen may prevent or reduce the occurrence of cold sores. If you already have a cold sore, L-lysine may help heal the sore more quickly.
The protein-building amino acid may also aid in digestion. It’s said to help your gastrointestinal tract absorb calcium. This added calcium can contribute to new bone tissue.
Your body doesn’t produce lysine, so you must consume it through the foods you eat. If your diet is lacking in lysine, you may have a compromised immune system. You may also develop higher levels of stress and anxiety. One 2004 study found that a diet rich in lysine can reduce these levels.
What the research says
If you eat a balanced diet that includes red meat, fish, and dairy products, you probably consume enough lysine. It’s also widely advertised as a dietary supplement. In the body, lysine knocks out another protein building block, or amino acid, called arginine. To boost the effect of lysine, avoid arginine-rich foods such as nuts and seeds.
A large reviewTrusted Source concluded that L-lysine had no reliable effect on cold sores. In a smaller study (conducted in 1983) that seemed to show an effect, participants took an average of just over 900 milligrams of the supplement daily for six months. At this or even higher levels, L-lysine appears to have no toxic effects.
Whether L-lysine is likely to work on reducing the intensity or duration of shingles symptoms is a separate question.
“There’s not a shred of evidence that it works,” says Aaron Glatt, MD, chairman of the department of medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital and spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
“It’s probably not dangerous, but I wouldn’t tell someone to spend money on it.”
If you’d like to explore L-lysine as a treatment option for shingles, make an appointment with your doctor. You can discuss whether it’s the right treatment for you.
Risks and warnings
Cons
- The short- and long-term effects of L-lysine supplements are unclear.
- Minor side effects may include nausea or diarrhea.
- More serious side effects may include abdominal pain.
More research is needed to determine the short- and long-term effects of taking L-lysine supplements. A number of side effects have been reported with L-lysine ingestion, although it isn’t clear whether they’re consistent.
Possible side effects include:
- diarrhea
- nausea
- abdominal pain
If you’re taking L-lysine supplements and experience any adverse or unusual symptoms, you should discontinue use. Meet with your doctor to assess your symptoms and determine whether it’s safe for you to continue taking these supplements.
Other treatments for shingles
Traditionally, systemic antiviral drugs are used to treat shingles. These drugs are for people who are otherwise healthy and who meet any one of these conditions:
- are at least 50 years old
- have moderate or severe pain
- have a moderate or severe rash
- have a rash outside the trunk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved three antiviral drugs for reducing the intensity and frequency of pain associated with shingles. This includes acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir.
Because these three drugs are considered very safe, they may be prescribed even to people who don’t meet one of the four criteria to reduce the chance of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN refers to a prolonged period of pain that occurs after your shingles rash has cleared.
You should start antiviral treatment as soon as possible. Ideally, you should begin treatment no more than three days after the rash appears. It’s possible to start an antiviral beyond three days, but you may not experience the same effects.
Antiviral treatment can generally reduce shingles pain to a manageable level. Your doctor may also prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen, to relieve pain. Depending on your symptoms, they may prescribe an opioid pain medication for maximum relief.
Wet compresses, calamine lotion, and colloidal oatmeal baths may help relieve itching.
Shingles is a common occurrence among people who have had chickenpox. Although complications from shingles are rare, they can be serious if they do occur. If you think you have shingles, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Although trying a home remedy such a L-lysine may not be harmful, it may not beneficial either. Seeing a doctor for care can offer several advantages over letting shingles run its course untreated or treating it with alternative therapies.
Glatt says that prescription antiviral drugs can ease the acute symptoms of shingles. The drugs can also reduce the amount of time that you’re contagious, and help prevent or reduce nerve pain afterward.