The Role of Essential Amino Acid Lysine in Health and Disease

Lysine is an essential amino acid, meaning that it must be consumed by dietary means and cannot be manufactured within the body. It occurs in protein-containing foods, such as eggs, meat, and dairy products, and is abundant in beans and legumes. While most people in developed nations consume an adequate amount of lysine, some may be deficient depending on their diet, among other factors.

Lysine can exist in a “D or L” form (which refers to the chirality of the molecule). However, the L form of lysine is the essential component of the diet and is the form available in dietary …read more