Monograph: |
Lysine
A white odourless crystalline powder or colourless crystals.
Freely soluble in water: slightly soluble in alcohol; practical-
ly insoluble in ether. Protect from light.
Lysine is an aliphatic amino acid which is an essential constit-
uent of the diet. Lysine and lysine hydrochloride are used as
dietary supplements.
Hyperargininaemia. Lysine has been used with ornithine
to manage symptoms in a patient with hyperargininaemia.
Lysine is one of the most studied of all amino acids. Its
deficiency in cereal protein makes it a limiting factor in rice,
wheat, oats
etc. insufficient intake or deficiency leads to decrease in body
weight, dizziness, fatigue, chronic tiredness, anaemia,
enzyme disorders etc., It is therapeutically used to enhance
growth of children, and to assist gastric function and
appetite.'
Lysine, which is a limiting amino acid, is also very essential
to maintain Positive Nitrogen Balance.
Lysine is also useful for the formation of Carnitine whose role
is for transporting fatty acids across mitochondria where they
can be used as a source of fuel in the generation of energy.2
(Low Carnitine levels affects fatty acid metabolism, resulting
in
elevation of fat andtriglycerides).
Lysine also may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of
osteoporosis because it reduces calcium losses in the urine.
Although
jiliiilil~ll~Jllilts In loss of targe amounts of calcium in
urine, so does lysine deficiency."
Lysine has been found to have therapeutic effects in viral
related diseases, particularly in its ability to control herpes
simplex virus. 1. In fact, Lysine therepy is recommeded by
Herpes organisation in U.K. Dr.R.Tankersley found that to slow
down the growth in a solution containing herpes virus, it was
necessary to add Lysine. On the basis of this, the therapeutic
application of Lysine was attempted. The results were
excellent.3
Lysine deficiency also may result in immuno deficiency.
Experimental animals on a Lysine deficient difficult diet showed
depressed growth and altered immune system function for several
generations." Low Lysine levels have been found in patients
with Parkinson's, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, asthma and
depression though exact levels is unclear, lysine therapy can
normalise the level and has been associated with improvement of
some patients with these conditions.
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