DEAR DR. GOTT: A past column about cold sores reminded me that 10-15 years ago I suffered from frequent canker sores and irritable bowel syndrome. My family doctor told me that both were stress-related but I had symptoms even when I didn’t feel I was under any stress on the job or at home. A friend of my wife who was an RN at the local hospital suggested that I try L-lysine for the canker sores.
I have been taking 1000 mg of L-lysine with breakfast for years now and rarely have a canker sore. When I do, I have found that cleaning between my teeth and gums with a water pik seems to help the sores heal faster (within a day or two). My theory is that it flushes away the virus.
The other part of this story is that since I have been using the daily dose of L-lysine, my irritable bowel syndrome problem also went away. I haven’t suffered a bout in years. In addition, I think L-lysine helps my immune system because I only get mild symptoms during cold and flu season. I rarely have a runny nose now.
I am a 67-year-old male, in reasonably good health. I know you have published articles about L-lysine and canker sores before, but I though the possibility of it offering relief from IBS might be of interest to you and your readers.
The only question I would have is whether or not the long-term use of L-lysine has any potential bad side effects.
DEAR READER: L-lysine, also known as lysine, is an amino acid. It is one of the building blocks of protein and is important for proper growth, is necessary for the formation of collagen and appears to help with calcium absorption.
The human body requires lysine but cannot produce it, so it must come from dietary sources. Most individuals obtain enough from diet but athletes, vegans who don’t consume legumes, burn victims, and those with high arginine levels may become deficient.
Symptoms of deficiency include anemia, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, slow growth, reproductive disorders, dizziness, and bloodshot eyes.
Lysine is used to prevent cold sores (caused by the herpes simplex virus). Studies have shown that it is better at preventing them when taken daily, than when taken at the first signs of symptoms to reduce the outbreak.
Lysine has also been studied for the treatment of osteoporosis and when combined with L-arginine was shown to make bone-building cells more active while enhancing the production of collagen, a substance necessary for proper muscle and bone development; however, more research is needed. To the best of my knowledge, it has not been studied as a preventive to developing osteopenia or osteoporosis.
Canker sores are not related to cold sores. Cold sores appear outside the mouth, often near the lips, whereas canker sores occur in the mouth. The exact cause is unknown but several factors may come into play such as minor mouth injuries, allergic reaction, stress, celiac disease, hormonal shifts and more.
Irritable bowel syndrome, at the time you were diagnosed, was a diagnosis of exclusion and was commonly thought to be the result of or worsened by stress. This is now not the case.
I cannot tell you why your daily use of L-lysine has helped in both instances, but lysine is a fairly safe supplement and shouldn’t carry adverse effects when used appropriately. That being said, anyone interested in trying this should first speak to his or her physician. The human body (in those ages 13 and over) only requires about 12 mg daily. When used as a preventive, up to 1000 mg daily can be taken. Some studies have found that it can cause diarrhea, gallstones and elevate cholesterol levels. Lysine can interact with aminoglycoside antibiotics causing an increased risk of nephrotoxicity (toxicity of the kidneys).
Readers who are interested in learning more about home remedies and alternatives can order copies of my Health Reports “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies” and “More Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 (for each report) US check or money order to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form from my website, www.AskDrGottMD.com.
