Superfluous Supplements
December 8, 2025
Wednesday, 19 March 2025, 13:29:10
"Superfluous Supplements: L-Lysine is vital for health, but most get enough of it through their diet"
Article from Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel
By Daryl Austin
My Notes:
"While research show that the global dietary supplements market was already exploding in 2021 when it was valued at more than $152 Billion, the industry is showing no signs of slowing down. One report shows that the global market will reach $300 Billion by 2028. Though dietary supplements are not regulated in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration the same way foods and drugs are, and many popular supplements have been shown to be ineffective or even dangerous in high amounts, most of the supplements sold in the industry are considered to be generally safe when taken as directed. L-Lysine is among the most commonly taken supplement, though registered dietitians do not usually stress a need to take it unless a person has a medical condition or dietary restriction that prevents them from getting enough of it naturally in their diet."
"L-Lysine, or lysine, is an amino acid , an organic compound that links together to form proteins. Lysine is considered an essential amino acid because the body needs it but cannot produce it."
"Lysine is a necessary building block for the proteins in every cell of our body, said Dr. Walter Willett, a physician and professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health....very few generally healthy American are protein deficient, Willet said. That is because the amino acids (including lysine) that form protein are abundant in most protein-rich foods sources such as eggs, meat and dairy. Willett said lysine is also in all whole plant foods such as wheat and beans."
"In other words, if a person is eating a well-balanced diet, they are already getting plenty of the lysine and other amino acids their body needs."
"At the same time, people with certain medical conditions or people with dietary restrictions that cause them to be deficient in protein are sometimes encouraged to take L-Llysine as a dietary supplement."
Lysine
1) "helps the body absorb calcium, which is important for bone health;
2) it supports a healthy immune system 3j9DkR3)
by helpingwith the production of antibodies;
3) research shows it may reduce feelings of stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels;
4) it plays important roles in protein synthesis such as helping with the production of enzymes and hormones; and it aids in tissue growth and repair...
5) help with the formation of collagen production, making it important for skin health."
"...lysine has anti-viral effects that block the activity of arginine which promotes replication of the verpes virus, per Mount Sinai Hospital in New York."
"...it is likely sufficient to get L-Lysine from protein food sources."