L-Lysine
Also known as: lysine, L-lysine HCl, lysine hydrochloride
An essential amino acid that is limiting in grain-based diets and is needed for collagen cross-linking, carnitine synthesis, and calcium handling. Supplemental lysine is best known in immune-support and lip-care products and has been studied for anxiety and stress responses in a community fortification trial. It is usually supplied as lysine HCl, which is about 80% lysine by mass.
Research summary
Essential substrate for protein and collagen synthesis; acts as a partial serotonin receptor antagonist and competes with arginine for cellular uptake.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 mg | 1,000–3,000 mg | 3,000 mg | — |
Consumer products supply 500–1,000 mg per capsule with 1–3 g/day common. Doses are usually stated as lysine HCl; multiply by roughly 0.8 for free lysine. Higher lysine-to-arginine ratios are the goal in immune-focused formulas.
Source material: fermentation-derived (as L-lysine HCl)
As supplied: L-lysine HCl supplies about 80% free lysine by mass.
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Soluble and only mildly bitter; 1 g fits in roughly two size-00 capsules or a large tablet. Gummies are limited to a few hundred milligrams.
Formulation notes
Often combined with vitamin C and zinc in immune formulas. Avoid pairing large lysine doses with arginine-based pump products because the two compete for absorption.
Sources
Related ingredients
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)
VitaminThe form of vitamin D the body makes from sunlight and the most effective supplemental form for raising blood levels.
Typical: 1,000–2,000 IU
Magnesium Glycinate
MineralA chelated form of magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine.
Typical: 200–350 mg
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
MushroomReishi is a woody polypore used for centuries in East Asian herbal traditions and now sold mainly as a hot-water or dual extract of the fruiting body.
Typical: 1,000–1,500 mg
Vitamin D3 (Vegan, Lichen-Sourced)
VitaminChemically identical cholecalciferol extracted from lichen rather than sheep's wool lanolin, which lets a product carry vegan and vegetarian claims while keeping the D3 form that raises and holds serum 25(OH)D better than D2.
Typical: 1,000–2,000 IU
Cod Liver Oil
Fatty acidCod liver oil is pressed from the livers of Atlantic cod.
Typical: 1,000–2,000 mg