Reader Questions
October 1, 1999 2 minutes read
Reader Questions
Question: Some manufacturers recommend taking their commercial L-lysine monohydrochloride (LMH) product one hour before or two hours after meals. However, your recommendation in the July 1999 issue suggests taking LMH with meals. I spoke to a representative from one company and was told that their product is a raw amino acid and thus should not be taken with meals because the gastric juices will begin digestion of the product and interfere with absorption. Why do you suggest taking the product with meals?
Hugh Kopald, MD
Pittsfield, VT
Response: You raise the interesting issue of lysine intake and its relation to meals. Pharmacologic studies have investigated absorption and safety of LMH when taken both on an empty stomach and when given with food. In both animal and human studies, giving LMH increased serum lysine levels regardless of when it was given.1 Taking LMH on an empty stomach may increase the incidence of GI side effects. As far as the clinical trial data, only one of the eight placebo-controlled, randomized trials specified taking LMH with meals.2 This positive study is the largest and most recent trial, and used the largest dose (1,000 mg PO tid). Thus, taking LMH with food does not seem to reduce its probable benefit, and may decrease any mild GI side effects seen at the higher doses.
Philippe Szapary, MD
Michael Cirigliano, MD
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
References
1. Flodin NW. The metabolic roles, pharmacology, and toxicology of lysine. J Am Coll Nutr 1997;16:7-21.
2. Griffith RS, et al. Success of L-lysine therapy in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Treatment and prophylaxis. Dermatologica 1987;175:183-190.
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