One of nine
essential amino acids required in the human
diet. As with any amino acid, lysine is a building block for making human proteins. Lysine helps with
calcium absorption, the formation of
collagen, and
bone growth.
Lysine is found in most protein food sources but there's a lot more of it in animal protein (fish, meat, dairy products) than other sources.
Grains and cereal generally lack lysine (with the exception of wheat germ, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, and rice). Companies like Novartis are working to "improve" upon nature by developing genetically modified versions of corn that contains lysine.
Vegetarians can get their lysine from legumes, especially soy. Fruits and vegetables have some, but not nearly as much as animal protein. It turns up in high concentrations in spirulina, parsley,
fenugreek seed.
It has been used orally in the prevention and treatment of herpes infections (genital herpes and cold sores) and canker sores; in the treatment of Bell's palsy; and to improve calcium use in the body. Linus Pauling thought that lysine (along with vitamin C) could dissolve atherosclerotic plaques in the body.