L-lysine is a proteinogenic amino acid belonging to the group of essential amino acids. Essential amino acids must be absorbed through food or dietary supplements because the body is unable to produce them. Foods that provide a good source of lysine supply are dairy products, eggs, fish and meat. Also, vegetable products such as soybeans or lentils provide a large amount of lysine, whereas cereal products are more lysine-poor. The functions of lysine in the body are many. It is used, among other things, as a building block of collagen, which in turn is a component of bones, tendons, vessel walls and the skin. It helps to protect the vessels in the body and thus helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it supports the absorption of calcium in the intestine, promotes bone growth and is involved in the formation of L-carnitine. A lack of amino acids, either through frequent stress or through one-sided nutrition, can have a negative impact on health. For example, the immune system can be weakened. A deficiency specific to L-lysine may manifest as fatigue, dizziness or frequent lack of concentration. For athletes, the lack of lysine in the blood means that processes designed to start muscle growth can not take place. It is then no longer possible for the body to ensure muscle preservation. A healthy person has a daily requirement of 1 to 1.5 grams of lysine. Athletes, on the other hand, generally have a higher need for amino acids. On the one hand, because athletes drain their amino acid pool faster and more frequently through regular physical exertion. On the other hand, they are particularly dependent on the positive effects of amino acids on muscle growth and muscle maintenance to make their training successful. Lysine should be taken before a meal with enough liquid. By absorbing it with liquid it is easier for the body to absorb it quickly. Overdose with lysine is almost impossible, as the body either uses the lysine directly or simply excretes excess lysine, like other amino acids.
