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Lysine Acetate

Also known as: Lysine acetate, L-lysine acetate

Overview

Lysine acetate is the acetate salt form of L-lysine, an essential amino acid. While lysine itself is crucial for protein synthesis, immune function, and collagen formation, lysine acetate is primarily used in supplements and research due to its enhanced solubility and stability compared to free lysine. It is found in various dietary proteins, and its salt form facilitates absorption and formulation in nutritional supplements. Although lysine as an amino acid has been extensively researched for its roles in human health, specific high-quality clinical research on lysine acetate as a distinct supplement ingredient is limited. Most available data pertains to the general properties of lysine or the biochemical process of lysine acetylation, which is a key regulatory mechanism in the body. Lysine acetate is generally considered safe, but its specific clinical efficacy as a standalone supplement has not been robustly established through randomized controlled trials or meta-analyses.

Benefits

Lysine, the active component of lysine acetate, is essential for protein synthesis, immune system function, and collagen formation. However, there is no robust clinical evidence, such as high-quality randomized controlled trials or meta-analyses, specifically demonstrating clinical benefits of lysine acetate supplementation in humans. While biochemical research highlights the importance of lysine acetylation (a modification of lysine residues in proteins) in regulating metabolism, gene expression, and processes related to obesity and cancer, these findings relate to endogenous biochemical pathways and not direct supplementation with lysine acetate. Therefore, no specific population-specific benefits or established effect sizes for lysine acetate supplementation have been identified. The time course of any potential benefits is also not established.

How it works

Lysine acetate, once absorbed, provides L-lysine to the body. L-lysine is an essential amino acid, meaning it must be obtained through diet, and is a fundamental building block for proteins. It is incorporated into various proteins throughout the body, playing roles in metabolic pathways, immune responses, and the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein. Beyond its role in protein synthesis, lysine residues on proteins can undergo post-translational modification through acetylation. This process, mediated by lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) and deacetylated by histone deacetylases (HDACs), significantly impacts protein function, gene expression, and chromatin structure, thereby influencing metabolic regulation. Lysine acetate, as a salt form, is expected to have good solubility and bioavailability, facilitating its absorption and delivery of lysine to these various biological processes.

Side effects

Lysine supplementation in general is considered safe at typical doses, and specific safety data on lysine acetate are sparse but are expected to be similar to those of lysine. There are no well-documented common, uncommon, or rare side effects specifically attributed to lysine acetate supplementation. No specific drug interactions have been well-documented for lysine acetate. Similarly, there are no well-defined contraindications for its use. Information regarding special population considerations (e.g., pregnant women, children, individuals with specific medical conditions) for lysine acetate is also lacking. While lysine is generally safe up to 3 grams per day orally, higher doses of lysine may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Given the limited specific research on lysine acetate, users should exercise caution and consult a healthcare professional, especially if they have pre-existing conditions or are taking other medications.

Dosage

The minimum effective dose for lysine acetate has not been established due to a lack of specific clinical research. For lysine generally, doses in studies vary widely, typically ranging from 500 mg to 3 grams per day. Optimal dosage ranges for lysine acetate are not defined. The maximum safe dose for lysine is generally considered to be up to 3 grams per day orally; higher doses may lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. There are no established timing considerations for lysine acetate supplementation. As a salt form, lysine acetate may be preferred in formulations requiring higher solubility, which could influence its absorption. Lysine acetate is expected to have good absorption due to its salt form. No specific cofactors are required for its absorption or utilization.

FAQs

Is lysine acetate different from lysine?

Lysine acetate is the acetate salt form of L-lysine. While chemically different, it provides the same essential amino acid, L-lysine, to the body. The salt form primarily enhances solubility and stability for formulation purposes.

Is lysine acetate effective for anxiety or angina?

Current evidence is insufficient to support the efficacy of lysine acetate for conditions such as anxiety or angina. There is a lack of robust clinical trials to substantiate these claims.

Are there risks associated with lysine acetate supplementation?

Lysine acetate is generally considered safe, similar to lysine. No significant risks or specific adverse effects have been well-documented in the limited research available on lysine acetate.

How quickly does lysine acetate work?

There are no clinical data available to determine how quickly lysine acetate might exert any effects. This aspect has not been established in research.

Can lysine acetate affect gene expression?

While endogenous lysine acetylation is a biochemical process that significantly affects gene expression and protein function, this is a complex cellular mechanism and not a direct effect of supplementing with lysine acetate.

Research Sources

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17916-9 – This proteomic analysis identified widespread lysine acetylation in gut microbiome proteins, highlighting the biological significance of this modification in microbial metabolism. The study is biochemical in nature and does not involve human supplementation with lysine acetate.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8727833/ – This systematic review and meta-analysis focused on lysine-specific demethylase 1 inhibitors in cancer therapy. It is important to note that this research pertains to enzyme inhibitors and not to lysine acetate supplementation, thus having limited direct relevance to the supplement's efficacy.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11903573/ – This narrative review discusses the role of lysine acetylation in regulating metabolic pathways relevant to obesity and metabolic syndrome. It provides mechanistic insights into the biochemical importance of lysine modifications but does not include clinical trials on lysine acetate supplementation.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.965709/full – This metabolomic analysis observed altered lysine and acetate levels in patients with spondyloarthritis, suggesting a link between these metabolites and disease states. However, the study is observational and does not provide data on the effects of lysine acetate supplementation.
https://drugs.ncats.io/drug/TTL6G7LIWZ – This drug information summary indicates insufficient evidence for the efficacy of lysine acetate in treating anxiety or angina. It highlights the lack of randomized controlled trials to support these clinical uses, suggesting a low quality of evidence for these applications.