It would be easy to confuse poly-l-lysine with the health food supplement lysine, but this would be a mistake. Poly-l-lysine is a man made amino acid chain that is mainly used to coat and prepare slides for use in a microscope. Lysine is a popular supplement used to treat and prevent wide variety of complaints.
Poly-l-lysine: Production and Uses
A process called fermentation, involving the essential amino acid L-lysine, produces the compound poly-l-lysine. The chemical process that produces poly-l-lysine involves manipulating the bonds of L-lysine residues and forming a new compound that is positively charged. This new compound has a far lower molecular weight, making it far less viscous and thus creating far more binding sites per molecule. These multiple binding sites and positive charge make poly-l-lysine ideal for coating glass slides used to culture cells for research and medical purposes. This form of poly-l-lysine is not intended for human use, and should only be used for research purposes.
L-lysine: Uses and Side Effects
Perhaps best known for its success in treating herpes, l-lysine also hosts a wealth of other positive properties. This popular supplement is also recognized for helping to prevent osteoporosis; cataracts, preserving muscle tissue, and helping the body recuperate from stress and anxiety. In addition, it helps to maintain energy levels and keep the heart strong by providing the ingredients for the body to make the essential amino acid carnitine, which is important to the process of controlling cholesterol levels.
L-lysine is one of the eight essential amino acids that the body cannot manufacture on its own. Most people consume all the l-lysine they need. It is found in red meats, chicken, turkey and other animal proteins in ample amounts. However, vegetarians and dieters who eat a low fat diet may not get enough l-lysine from foods alone. The milling process strips most grains of their naturally occurring l-lysine, leaving little in flour and other refined products. Cooking a protein food along with sugar also destroys l-lysine. For this reason, sugary foods can often lead to increased risk of protein deficiency. If the body doesn’t have an adequate supply of even just one of the eight essential amino acids, the body can’t make protein efficiently enough to preserve our lean tissue.
L-Lysine and Osteoporosis
Only recently has l-lysine’s use in treating osteoporosis been established. Most doctors recommend that postmenopausal women take at least 500 mg of l-lysine per day, and more if the diet is low in animal protein. The body needs l-lysine to absorb calcium and transport the mineral to the bones. A deficiency can increase the loss of calcium, leading to bone degeneration.
L-Lysine and Herpes
While l-lysine doesn’t actually kill the herpes simplex virus, a dosage of between one and three grams a day has been proven to hold back active symptoms, most notably the blisters that emerge around the mouth or the genitals. L-lysine works because it interferes with the absorption of the virus’s favorite food, the amino acid arginine.
L-lysine Supplements and Dosages
Most people don’t need l-lysine supplements, as diets tend to already provide enough. Supplements need to be considered only by vegetarians or anyone eating a low protein diet, as well as by anyone attempting to combat herpes outbreak. For suppressing herpes, l-lysine taken in a daily dose of 1-2 grams works better if combined with a sugar-free diet and alongside supplements of vitamin A, vitamin C, the bioflavinoids, and bromelain. Taking l-lysine and arginine together daily should provide immune support against viruses unrelated to herpes.
While distantly related, poly-l-lysine and l-lysine should not be confused as supplements. As with any dietary supplement, adding l-lysine should only be done after consulting a doctor.