Vinero
Member
I started taking the amino acid l-lysine 2 years ago because I read it reduces anxiety, lowers serotonin, and lowers nitric oxide. It made me feel quite calm and happy when I began taking it, and it seemed to have no negative side effects whatsoever. I took about 6 grams daily, which is the amount used in the studies that showed lowering of nitric oxide. I always took it after eating a protein-rich meal, which blocked arginine absorption (the precursor to nitric oxide). Since I read that nitric oxide speeds up the aging-process and lowering it improves your health, I reasoned that I was going to take this long-term, why not?
Well a few months later I suddenly started feeling really bad. I didn't have any appetite for food, couldn't sleep, I had massive anxiety, chest-pains, and lots of coughing. It felt like I had endotoxin poisoning or something.
I went to the doctor because I felt like I was going to die if I didn't.
I was diagnosed with pneumonia, a bacterial lung infection.
I got a course of antibiotics and felt better right away.
However, a few days after finishing my antibiotics, I started feeling sick again. The same symptoms.
I went to the doctor again, and was diagnosed with pneumonia again.
I got another round of antibiotics, felt better, then after a few days got sick yet again..
At this point I seriously wondered how this is even possible? Who gets an infection three times in a row?
I was a young man who was in otherwise good health, and I was not taking any immunosuppressive drugs.
So I began brain-storming and analyzing my diet and supplements I was taking, hoping to find a solution.
Then I read somewhere that l-arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid, and that it's important to get enough arginine when you have an infection. This is because l-arginine is converted to nitric oxide, which is overproduced in infection to kill the pathogens. If you do not have enough arginine the body fails to produce adequate nitric oxide and the bacteria overwhelm the immune system. Just google "arginine infection" or "arginine immune system" and lots of studies and results pop up.
Since lysine blocks dietary arginine absorption, it looked like I was inducing an arginine deficiency by taking lysine everyday. I immediately stopped taking the lysine, and took one last round of antibiotics.
Since I stopped taking the lysine the symptoms have never returned again, which I am grateful for.
I have learned my lesson, and now I know why Ray doesn't recommend people taking isolated amino acids.
Although arginine is bad in excess, you can get in serious trouble if you deplete arginine totally.
I only eat whole proteins now, I am even cautious about BCAA. Depleting tryptophan, methionine and cysteine might have some unpredictable result just like depleting arginine.
Well a few months later I suddenly started feeling really bad. I didn't have any appetite for food, couldn't sleep, I had massive anxiety, chest-pains, and lots of coughing. It felt like I had endotoxin poisoning or something.
I went to the doctor because I felt like I was going to die if I didn't.
I was diagnosed with pneumonia, a bacterial lung infection.
I got a course of antibiotics and felt better right away.
However, a few days after finishing my antibiotics, I started feeling sick again. The same symptoms.
I went to the doctor again, and was diagnosed with pneumonia again.
I got another round of antibiotics, felt better, then after a few days got sick yet again..
At this point I seriously wondered how this is even possible? Who gets an infection three times in a row?
I was a young man who was in otherwise good health, and I was not taking any immunosuppressive drugs.
So I began brain-storming and analyzing my diet and supplements I was taking, hoping to find a solution.
Then I read somewhere that l-arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid, and that it's important to get enough arginine when you have an infection. This is because l-arginine is converted to nitric oxide, which is overproduced in infection to kill the pathogens. If you do not have enough arginine the body fails to produce adequate nitric oxide and the bacteria overwhelm the immune system. Just google "arginine infection" or "arginine immune system" and lots of studies and results pop up.
Since lysine blocks dietary arginine absorption, it looked like I was inducing an arginine deficiency by taking lysine everyday. I immediately stopped taking the lysine, and took one last round of antibiotics.
Since I stopped taking the lysine the symptoms have never returned again, which I am grateful for.
I have learned my lesson, and now I know why Ray doesn't recommend people taking isolated amino acids.
Although arginine is bad in excess, you can get in serious trouble if you deplete arginine totally.
I only eat whole proteins now, I am even cautious about BCAA. Depleting tryptophan, methionine and cysteine might have some unpredictable result just like depleting arginine.