An important function of lysine is to regulate absorption of calcium and maintaining the nitrogen balance in the body. It is needed for forming collagen, the protein that forms the matrix of bone, cartilage, and connective tissue. Vitamin C controls the conversion of lysine into the collagen constituent.
Lysine is involved in the production of antibodies, hormones, and enzymes for tissue repair. For this reason it is used for surgical recovery and sports injuries. Working as a precursor to citrulline and carnitine, lysine can lower high triglyceride levels.
Lysine has proved to be effective in treating cold sores and herpes. Lysine is incorporated into the virus mistakenly as the virus tries to take in the similarly structured compound, arginine, which promotes Herpes Simplex growth. Without adequate arginine, the virus cannot duplicate. Vitamin C and lysine in combination may inhibit other viruses similar to the Herpes virus such as Herpes zoster, Ruebella, Varicella, Varioula, Adenovirus types I and II and Cytomegalovirus.1 Lysine has also been used to treat osteoporosis, marasmus, atherosclerosis, migraine headaches, Bell's palsy, and Meniere's disease. Preliminary research shows lysine to be effective for relieving angina when taken in conjunction with Vitamin C.
Lysine deficiency results in loss of energy, concentration lapse, irritability, bloodshot eyes, loss of hair, anemia, growth retardation, and reproductive disorders. In studies on rats, an equivalent human dose of 140g of lysine has been associated with increased toxicity of aminoglycoside antibiotics.