Lysine (L-lysine)
Sleep & Recovery · Essential amino acid
Tier B+
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Lysine (L-lysine) as B+ (7.1/10) based on moderate evidence, moderate benefit magnitude, and a low-risk safety profile.
Old, simple, mostly evidence-supported for HSV cold-sore prevention — the biggest residual claim.
Typical use: 1000-3000 mg/day for HSV prophylaxis; up to 3 g three times daily during outbreak — OTC.
What this is
Old, simple, mostly evidence-supported for HSV cold-sore prevention — the biggest residual claim. Newer biohacker stacks rarely include it; valacyclovir is more effective when episodes are frequent. Not a sleep agent despite the category; placed here per existing convention for amino-acid recovery supplements.
Mechanism
Essential proteinogenic amino acid; substrate for carnitine biosynthesis; competes with arginine for intestinal transport and viral protein synthesis — basis for the HSV recurrence hypothesis (HSV proteins are arginine-rich)
Dose & route
1000-3000 mg/day for HSV prophylaxis; up to 3 g three times daily during outbreak
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3115841/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6435313/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11399518/
Links go to the source. If a link is dead or you want something re-checked, let me know.
Common questions
- Does Lysine (L-lysine) work?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Lysine (L-lysine) as Moderate and the benefit magnitude as moderate, producing an overall grade of B+ (7.1/10). Old, simple, mostly evidence-supported for HSV cold-sore prevention — the biggest residual claim.
- Is Lysine (L-lysine) safe?
- Lysine (L-lysine) has a low risk profile in published human data. Legal status: OTC. This is not medical advice — see the disclaimer.
- What is the typical dose for Lysine (L-lysine)?
- 1000-3000 mg/day for HSV prophylaxis; up to 3 g three times daily during outbreak
- How does Lysine (L-lysine) work?
- Essential proteinogenic amino acid; substrate for carnitine biosynthesis; competes with arginine for intestinal transport and viral protein synthesis — basis for the HSV recurrence hypothesis (HSV proteins are arginine-rich)
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.