Q. You had an article about drugs to heal cold sores faster. Why not prevent them? I take L-lysine before meals every day and it prevents cold sores from developing into full-blown blisters. I think prevention is better than cure.
A. Several studies suggest that the dietary supplement lysine may reduce cold sore outbreaks (Alternative Medicine Review, June, 2006). The optimal dose is not known, but side effects seem rare.
Some people content that limiting the amino acid arginine in the diet improves the effectiveness of lysine. Foods high in arginine include chocolate, nuts and seeds.
