Lysine supplements with the fewest additives
I keep seeing more and more studies on the benefits of lysine, so I figured I should add it to my growing collection of amino acid product suggestion pages.
My general approach is to suggest brands that use minimal excipients and have testing data to show lack of contamination from manufacturing. I was hoping for completely-independent testing of lysine supplements, but the usual places I check (ConsumerLab and LabDoor) didn't have any contaminant testing. So I'm suggesting the two companies I like that don't use excipients and provide Certificates of Analyses:
Suggested lysine brands:
Powder form: L-lysine HCl.
Gelatin capsules: L-lysine HCl, gelatin.
Veggie capsules: L-lysine HCl, hypromellose.
The lysine is from China. Leave a comment below if you know of a non-Chinese source (beware of the "manufactured in the US" trick some brand use).
Powder form: L-lysine HCl.
Gelatin capsules: L-lysine HCl, gelatin.
Veggie capsules: L-lysine HCl, cellulose (probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose).
As with BulkSupplements, the lysine is from China.
Other lysine supplements
Here are the other lysine brands I looked at if you want to compare ingredients or find the best option in your country:
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Amazing Formulas L-Lysine (Tablets) | L-lysine free form (as L-lysine HCl), vegetable cellulose, contains <2% of: natural palm leaf glaze, silica, titanium dioxide color, vegetable magnesium stearate, vegetable stearic acid. |
| CVS L-Lysine (Tablets) | L-lysine HCl, cellulose (plant origin), contains <2% of: cellulose coating, croscarmellose, natural palm leaf glaze, silica, titanium dioxide color, vegetable magnesium stearate, vegetable stearic acid. |
| Douglas Laboratories L-Lysine (Gelatin Capsules) | L-lysine HCl, gelatin (capsule), cellulose and vegetable stearate. |
| Nature's Bounty L-Lysine (Tablets) | L-lysine HCl, vegetable cellulose, contains <2% of: natural palm leaf glaze, silica, titanium dioxide color, vegetable magnesium stearate, vegetable stearic acid. |
| NOW Foods L-Lysine (Gelatin Capsules) | L-lysine HCl, gelatin (capsule), stearic acid (vegetable source), cellulose, rice flour, magnesium stearate (vegetable source). |
| NOW Foods L-Lysine (Powder) | L-lysine HCl. |
| NOW Foods L-Lysine (Tablets) | L-lysine (from L-lysine monohydrochloride), cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, silica, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), stearic acid (vegetable source) and vegetable coating. |
| NutraBio L-Lysine (Powder) | L-lysine HCl. |
| NutraBio L-Lysine (Veggie Capsules) | L-lysine HCl, vegetable capsule (probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). |
| Pure Encapsulations L-Lysine (Veggie Capsules) | L-lysine HCl, ascorbyl palmitate (fat-soluble vitamin C), vegetarian capsule (cellulose, water) (the cellulose is probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. |
| Quantum Health Super Lysine (Tablets) | Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), calcium (dicalcium phosphate, calcium stearate), L-lysine (as l-lysine hydrochloride), garlic bulb (Allium sativum) P.E. 3:1 deodorized 3500 ppm allicin, echinacea whole plant (Echinacea purpurea) P.E. 4:1, propolis P.E 2:1, licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) P.E. 4:1., cellulose, vegetable stearine, silicon dioxide, sodium hydroxycellulose, cellulose coating (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), natural colorants. |
| Solaray L-Lysine (Gelatin Capsules) | L-lysine (as L-lysine HCl), microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose, vegetable stearic acid, silica, vegetable glycerin. |
| Solaray L-Lysine (Gelatin Capsules) | L-lysine HCl, gelatin capsules, cellulose, magnesium stearate. |
| Solgar L-Lysine (Tablets) | L-lysine HCl, microcrystalline cellulose (bulking agent), vegetable stearic acid (anti-caking agent), silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (glazing agent), cellulose (glazing agent), vegetable glycerin (from palm kernel oil and coconut oil, glazing agent), cellulose gum. |
| Source Naturals L-Lysine (Gelatin Capsules) | L-lysine HCl, gelatin (capsule), microcrystalline cellulose, and magnesium stearate. |
| Spring Valley L-Lysine (Tablets) | L-lysine HCl, cellulose (plant origin), contains <2% of: croscarmellose, silica, vegetable magnesium stearate, vegetable stearic acid. |
| Swanson Free-Form L-Lysine (Gelatin Capsules) | L-lysine HCl, rice flour, gelatin, magnesium stearate. |