Hi Wendy, when Maizee was getting chemo treatments they had me giving her Lysine also to help her immune system.
--- On Sat, 8/23/08, wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Lysine and immune system boosting: my view To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Date: Saturday, August 23, 2008, 11:17 AM Hi Gary and all, I want to explain why I believe lysine to be an immune system booster so maybe we can stop going back and forth on the issue: There are 20 (or 21 depending on the source) different amino acids in our bodies. One of them is L-lysine. All cells in every organism (plants, animals, etc.) use these amino acids to make proteins. A single antibody molecule (PART OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM) contains about 1,400 amino acids+. If our bodies are low in lysine (and remember, our bodies CANNOT make lysine {but plants can}), then a reduction in lysine would = a lowered immune system because the chain of proteins that make up the antibody molecules is weakened. Here is an article you can wade through that talks about antibodies: http://www.cehs.siu.edu/fix/medmicro/igs.htm This is why lysine is given to people to help recuperate after surgery or injury as it is necessary for tissue repair and growth. It's also necessary in the production of antibodies (used by the immune system to seek out and identify bacteria and viruses in our bodies). It's a building block of our very cells. And therefore it IS linked to the immune system, and I would assume, immune system boosting if the immune system is weak. Every health food company that sells lysine quips that it is an immune system boosting amino acid. Lysine deficiencies have been shown in HIV patients in Africa, so I think that it's possible that even though FeLV is not HIV, it is a virus, so maybe our furry friends may also be low in the essential amino acid because of the virus. I don't think the studies have been done on this particular issue. And if anyone knows of any, please post them. As I said before, I'm not a doctor, vet, or scientist. But I can research, read, and use my common sense to make logical inferences. I don't believe there are any studies to show that link lysine to the immune system because, from what I understand, it's common knowledge in the science/medical world. It would be like trying to find studies linking blood to the heart. If someone here is a biomedical student, doctor, expert researcher, etc., and you do not agree with what I've written above, please explain to me why this is not true. I absolutely welcome respectful discourse on this matter. And I want to say that regardless of whether I am wrong on this, pure lysine cannot be overdosed (because like Vitamin C, it's water-soluble), and is all natural, so is not bad for cats. All it can do is help. Thanks! :) Wendy "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret Meade ~~~ ----- Original Message ---- From: gary <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 12:52:45 PM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] New Here I have recently heard that l-lysine is only effective against the herpes virus because it reduces the amount of l-arginine that the herpes virus needs in order to replicate. Supposedly, there is no evidence that l-lysine is a general immune booster. I know that many people give it as a supplement and it is well tolerated by cats so there is no harm in giving it. If anyone knows of a study that shows l-lysine is a general immune booster, please give me the link, I would be very interested in reading about it. Thanks, Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: "wendy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 11:25 AM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] New Here > Welcome to the group Jody! So glad you hear your kitties are healthy! I > feed mine Innova Evo. I would also suggest pure L-Lysine as a supplement. > It's an immune system booster, comes in a tasteless powder form, and is > easy to mix into wet food. > :) > Wendy _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org