How does lysine affect your arteries?
Scientists say there’s no sight as sad as the corpse of a beautiful theory, slain by one ugly fact.
The ugly fact is that a high lysine/low arginine diet promotes atherosclerosis, which is a form of arteriosclerosis. Individuals on a diet high in animal-protein, with lysine three to four times higher than arginine, have an increased risk of atherosclerosis. Those who eat vegetarian diets, with scarcely more lysine than arginine, have a reduced risk of heart disease.
The answer lies in the ratio between insulin and glucagon, two hormones that control blood sugar. Proteins like casein (milk protein), with high lysine levels, cause a high insulin-to-glucagon ratio, at least in people with high cholesterol. Soy protein, with relatively more arginine, causes that ratio to decrease. Lysine and branched-chain amino acids increase serum cholesterol; arginine and glycine reduce it.
Consume a vitamin C on a daily basis is important. Other antioxidants, including vitamin E, carotene and CoQ10, must be taken concurrently with vitamin C to protect arteries.