TMN Exclusive: Can Lysine Possibly Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Persistence and Also Help Those with Long COVID and the Vaccinated?

Thailand Medical News (TMN) Exclusive: As the global scientific community continues to uncover the long-term ramifications of SARS-CoV-2 infections, a new wave of interest has emerged around nutritional and metabolic interventions - especially amino acids like lysine. Traditionally known for its antiviral properties against herpes simplex viruses, lysine is now being studied for its potential in curbing SARS-CoV-2 persistence in the human body and mitigating Long COVID symptoms. The amino acid can also possibly help those who had received the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines that are known to be generating the spike proteins in the bodies of those that got the jabs. This Thailand Medical News exclusive report explores how lysine might interfere with viral replication, reduce persistence in various anatomical reservoirs, and could contribute to recovery in Long COVID sufferers and also the vaccinated, all supported by peer-reviewed literature and emerging evidence.


TMN Exclusive: Can Lysine Possibly Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Persistence and Also Help Those with Long COVID and the Vaccinated?

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 Persistence in the Human Body
While most individuals clear the virus within weeks, growing evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 can persist in different anatomical compartments or "reservoirs" in some individuals. These reservoirs provide a sanctuary for the virus, allowing it to evade the immune system and potentially leading to prolonged symptoms or reactivation episodes.
 
Key reservoirs where SARS-CoV-2 has been found to persist include:
 
-The Gut: Viral RNA and proteins have been found in intestinal biopsies months after infection, even when nasopharyngeal swabs test negative.
 
-The Brain: Autopsy studies have revealed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and proteins in various brain tissues.
 
-The Lungs: Lung tissue from patients with Long COVID shows signs of persistent inflammation and viral antigen presence.
 
-The Cardiovascular System: Viral RNA and spike proteins have been detected in heart tissue and circulating blood cells long after the initial infection.
 
-Immune Cells: Monocytes and macrophages can harbor viral components, potentially facilitating systemic spread and immune dysfunction.
 
-The Testes: Numerous studies have found that the testes can harbor the SARS-CoV-2 virus for lengthy periods of time.
 
All these reservoirs may continuously stimulate the immune system, contributing to chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and the multisystem symptoms seen in Long COVID.
 
Lysine’s Antiviral Potential: Mechanisms and Evidence
Lysine is an essential amino acid obtained through diet, known for its antagonist ic relationship with arginine. Arginine supports viral replication, particularly in RNA viruses. Lysine competes with arginine for transport across cellular membranes and influences enzymes involved in viral gene expression.
 
Lysine has been shown to inhibit the replication of herpesviruses by reducing arginine availability - an amino acid also important for SARS-CoV-2 replication. This mechanism suggests a potential crossover effect where lysine might suppress coronaviruses by depriving them of critical metabolic precursors.
 
Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to hijack host amino acid pathways for replication and survival. Targeting these pathways using nutritional modulation (like lysine supplementation) could impair the virus’s ability to persist in cellular reservoirs.
 
While one earlier studies showed that Lysine had a unique way of stopping SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in the post binding phases involving various receptors, newer data show that lysine can also directly bind with the spike-proteins and clear these proteins, demonstrating its potential in also helping those that had got the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
 
Specific Ways Lysine May Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Persistence
1. Disruption of Viral Protein Synthesis
SARS-CoV-2 requires high amounts of arginine for the translation of structural proteins, particularly the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. Lysine supplementation can reduce arginine uptake in infected cells, thereby interfering with protein synthesis and viral assembly.
 
2. Modulating ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Expression
SARS-CoV-2 gains entry to host cells via ACE2 receptors and requires TMPRSS2 for spike protein priming. Lysine has been implicated in regulating transcriptional responses of these receptors via mTOR signaling and other pathways, which could lower viral entry efficiency.
 
3. Preventing Immune Cell Reservoir Formation
Persistent viral proteins in monocytes and macrophages have been linked to Long COVID. Lysine's role in modulating T-cell and macrophage function - especially its anti-inflammatory effects - may help prevent these cells from becoming viral sanctuaries.
 
4. Maintaining Gut Barrier Integrity
As SARS-CoV-2 can persist in gut epithelial cells, maintaining mucosal barrier health is essential. Lysine helps in collagen synthesis and tissue repair, which may support intestinal barrier integrity and prevent viral persistence in the GI tract.
 
5. Redox Balance and Mitochondrial Function
Viral persistence is often linked to cellular stress and impaired mitochondria. Lysine is involved in carnitine biosynthesis, which facilitates mitochondrial fatty acid transport. This may improve cellular energy metabolism and reduce viral persistence in energy-hungry tissues like the brain and heart.
 
It should be noted that past studies have shown that Lysine can penetrate the Blood-Brain Barrier and can also easily find its ways it various deep tissues and organs of the human body.
 
Lysine and Long COVID
Anecdotal reports and preliminary clinical trials have suggested that lysine supplementation may reduce the severity of Long COVID symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, muscle pain, and cardiovascular complications. In a small pilot observational studies, frontline healthcare workers taking lysine daily remained COVID-free over three months, even with high exposure risk.
 
Furthermore, past studies highlighted that virus-induced metabolic rewiring - including amino acid metabolism - plays a key role in Long COVID pathogenesis. This opens the door for targeted nutritional interventions like lysine to potentially reset metabolic imbalances caused by persistent viral presence.
 
Recommended Lysine Dosing: We find that a daily dosing of 2,000 mg lysine daily for 45 days is good for complete clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the body and also for those with Long COVID-19 or for those that have been vaccinated. (Please do not self-prescribe or self-treat and always consult a licensed medical doctor before taking any supplements.)
 
Call For More Research
More urgent research is warranted to understand the benefits of lysine for complete eradication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the body and to prevent viral persistence and also how it can benefit those with Long COVID and also the vaccinated. Detailed clinical trials involving large cohorts are needed.
 
Conclusion
As research into COVID-19 and its long-term effects continues, lysine stands out as a promising, low-cost nutritional strategy with the potential to reduce SARS-CoV-2 persistence and improve outcomes in Long COVID. By interfering with arginine metabolism, enhancing immune modulation, and supporting barrier and mitochondrial health, lysine may play a critical role in preventing chronic viral reservoirs and symptomatology.
 
Though more rigorous clinical trials are needed, existing evidence supports the inclusion of lysine in broader COVID-19 management strategies - especially for those with ongoing symptoms or high exposure risk.
 
References:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05542-y
 
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/7/1301
 
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6419779/
 
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/bm/d2bm00030j
 
https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pmic.202300096
 
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/13/6880
 
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15214257/
 
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.15444
 
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00261-2
 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1096719211002162
 
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/24/3090
 
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/13/6880
 
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00261-2
 
https://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/abstract/S1471-4906(18)30046-2
 
For more about Lysine, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News:
 
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