Can I split or crush this 1,000 mg tablet if I have difficulty swallowing large pills?

Yes. The tablet can easily be divided in half with a standard pill splitter or crushed and mixed into cold applesauce or yogurt. While the smooth vegetarian coating is designed to help the tablet glide down easily when swallowed whole with plenty of water, splitting it will not reduce the potency or absorption of the amino acid.

Should I take NOW L-Lysine 1,000 mg with meals or on an empty stomach?

For optimal absorption, take this tablet between meals or on an empty stomach with an 8 oz glass of water. Protein-dense foods contain competing amino acids that battle for the same transport gates in your intestine. Taking it at least 30 to 45 minutes before meals ensures fast, unimpeded cellular uptake.

Why does this tablet provide 1,270 mg of L-Lysine Hydrochloride to deliver 1,000 mg of L-Lysine?

Pure free-base lysine is unstable and breaks down in the presence of air and humidity. Binding lysine to USP-grade hydrochloride creates a stable, shelf-ready compound. The hydrochloride component accounts for 270 mg of molecular weight, yielding exactly 1,000 mg of pure, active elemental L-Lysine for your body to utilize.

Can I take L-Lysine at the same time as my daily Vitamin C or multivitamin?

Yes, Vitamin C is actually an ideal nutrient to pair with L-Lysine. Vitamin C serves as an indispensable enzymatic co-factor for lysyl hydroxylase, the specific enzyme that cross-links collagen fibers into strong, resilient connective tissue. They work synergistically to support tissue repair and daily immune defense.

Will taking an L-Lysine tablet break an intermittent fast?

No. A single 1,000 mg tablet contains negligible calories and zero grams of sugar, carbohydrates, or fat. When swallowed with plain water during your fasting window, it will not trigger a meaningful insulin spike or disrupt metabolic autophagy, making it completely fasting-friendly.

L-Lysine 1000mg Double Strength - 250 Tabs

by NOW FOODS

*MSRP:: ~~$34.99~~
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UPC: 733739001238: # N0123

Product Overview & Quick Specs

Think of essential amino acids like building blocks that your body cannot create on its own. L-Lysine (chemical formula: C₆H₁₄N₂O₂) acts like the master cross-bolt that locks collagen fibers into place and reinforces daily immune defenses [1, 2]. NOW® L-Lysine 1,000 mg delivers twice the potency of standard 500 mg capsules in a single, pharmaceutical-grade tablet to support collagen synthesis, skin elasticity, and tissue integrity [1, 3].

Quick Specs Snapshot

✓ Active Form & Potency: 1,000 mg of pure L-Lysine (from 1,270 mg L-Lysine Hydrochloride) per single tablet.
✓ Primary Target: Connective tissue cross-linking, bone calcium retention, and balanced intracellular amino acid ratios [1, 2, 3].
✓ Supply & Value: 250 tablets per bottle provide over 8 months of daily double-strength support for pennies per day.
✓ Purity & Dietary Status: Vegetarian/vegan formulation, non-GMO, and free of wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts.

Buyer's Guide & Form Comparison

Why the Form Matters: L-Lysine Hydrochloride vs. Cheap Alternatives

Free-base lysine is unstable and absorbs moisture rapidly from surrounding room air. To keep the amino acid stable and bioavailable, NOW binds pure L-Lysine to USP-grade hydrochloric acid to form L-Lysine Hydrochloride (HCl). This stable mineral salt shields the nutrient from environmental degradation and dissolves smoothly in stomach acid.

Many commodity discount brands and big box retailers cut corners by using low-density powders packed into oversized capsules or using harsh synthetic binders. In contrast, NOW delivers a verified 1,000 mg yield of active L-Lysine from 1,270 mg of pure USP-grade material in a single, smooth-coated tablet.

Is This Formula Right for You?

Best Choice For:

✓ Individuals seeking robust nutritional support for lip, skin, and mucosal tissue integrity during periods of immune stress [3, 4].
✓ Adults looking to support collagen cross-linking and bone matrix mineralization without swallowing extra pills [1, 2].
✓ Shoppers who want a convenient, double-strength 1,000 mg dose in a long-lasting 250-tablet economy bottle.

Consider Another Option If:

✗ You have difficulty swallowing solid tablets and would prefer pure L-Lysine powder mixed into juice or water.
✗ You require small micro-doses (such as 250 mg or 500 mg increments), where smaller capsules offer easier titration.

Risk-Free VitaNet® Guarantee: Every purchase is backed by VitaNet®, LLC's 31-year reputation and unconditional 100% money-back guarantee—even on opened bottles, with return shipping covered by us—allowing you to evaluate digestive tolerance completely risk-free[cite: 1, 18].

How It Works in the Body

1. The Structural Bolt of Collagen Synthesis

Think of collagen fibers like steel cables woven into a suspension bridge. Without cross-bolts, those cables fray under tension. Inside your body, L-Lysine acts like those high-tensile bolts [1]. Specialized enzymes (lysyl hydroxylase and lysyl oxidase) convert lysine residues into hydroxylysine and reactive aldehydes [1]. These reactive compounds form intermolecular covalent cross-links that weave collagen triple-helices into resilient connective tissue throughout skin, tendons, cartilage, and blood vessels [1].

2. The Revolving Door: Competitive Arginine Antagonism

Think of amino acid transport into cells like commuters trying to enter a single revolving door (the cationic amino acid transporter, system y⁺). Both L-Lysine and L-Arginine must pass through this exact same door [3, 4]. When you flood circulation with supplemental L-Lysine, it outcompetes and blocks L-Arginine from entering cells [3, 4]. Because certain cellular invaders depend heavily on intracellular arginine reserves to replicate, maintaining a high lysine-to-arginine ratio preserves lip and mucosal barrier integrity [3, 4].

3. The Cargo Tie-Down: Enhancing Calcium Retention

Think of calcium (Ca²⁺) like precious cargo moving through your digestive canal. L-Lysine acts like a tie-down strap that keeps that mineral cargo secure [2]. Clinical research demonstrates that dietary L-Lysine increases intestinal calcium absorption across the gut wall while simultaneously reducing renal calcium loss in the urine [2]. This dual mechanism supports balanced mineral levels and long-term skeletal density [2].

Daily Timing, Synergy & Realistic Timelines

Best Time to Take & Meal Pairing

Take 1 tablet 1 to 2 times daily, preferably between meals or on an empty stomach with an 8 oz glass of water (H₂O). High-protein whole foods contain competing amino acids that crowd intestinal absorption pathways [3]. Taking your tablet at least 30 to 45 minutes before eating ensures rapid, unhindered absorption into your bloodstream. If you experience mild stomach sensitivity, take it with a light carbohydrate snack or a piece of fruit rather than a heavy protein meal.

Daily Schedule: Morning vs. Evening

For daily tissue maintenance, take 1 tablet first thing in the morning with water. During periods of elevated physical or immune demand, split your dosing: take 1 tablet in the morning upon waking and 1 tablet in the late afternoon or before bedtime [3, 4]. Dividing your intake sustains elevated plasma lysine levels throughout the day and night.

Smart Pairings & Spacing Rules

✓ Synergistic Co-Factors: Pair with Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and Zinc. Vitamin C acts as an essential enzymatic co-factor for lysyl hydroxylase to cross-link collagen, while Zinc supports epithelial repair [1].
✗ Crucial 2-Hour Spacing Window: Separate your L-Lysine dose by at least 2 hours from high-arginine foods (chocolate, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, and gelatin) or L-Arginine workout powders, as excess arginine directly competes with lysine uptake [3, 4].

What to Expect Over Time

Days 1–7: Rapid digestive uptake raises plasma lysine concentrations. Intracellular transport competition begins, shifting systemic amino acid balance away from free arginine [3, 4].

Weeks 3–4: Consistent cellular saturation is achieved. Users note reinforced lip barrier resilience, improved mucosal comfort, and steady digestive tolerance [2, 3].

Months 2–3+: Cumulative collagen cross-linking supports skin firmness, tendon flexibility, bone mineral balance, and long-term immune equilibrium [1, 2].

Physical Feel, Sensory Traits & Clean Ingredients

Pill Format & Ease of Use

NOW L-Lysine 1,000 mg is pressed into an oblong, smooth-finished solid tablet. Each tablet features a thin, water-activated vegetarian coating designed to prevent the pill from catching on your tongue or throat. If you prefer smaller portions, the tablet can easily be halved with a standard pill cutter.

Natural Aroma, Taste & Color

When swallowed whole, the tablet is completely odorless and neutral in taste. If broken or crushed, pure L-Lysine HCl displays a mildly salty, slightly tart amino acid profile. Because NOW avoids synthetic dyes and artificial whitening agents, natural color variations ranging from off-white to pale cream can occur between batches.

Other Ingredients Explained

Every inactive excipient on the label serves an exact, functional manufacturing role with zero hidden synthetic fillers:

✓ Microcrystalline Cellulose: Purified plant fiber that provides clean structural bulk to hold the active amino acid together without artificial adhesives.
✓ Silicon Dioxide: A natural mineral that absorbs ambient moisture and prevents raw amino acid powders from clumping during processing.
✓ Stearic Acid (vegetable source): A plant-derived fatty acid that lubricates tablet tooling dies, ensuring uniform tablet density across every run.
✓ Vegetarian Coating: A plant-cellulose outer film that creates a slick surface for smooth swallowing while shielding the core from humidity.
✓ Croscarmellose Sodium: An inert, plant-derived disintegrant that swells upon contact with stomach fluids, breaking the tablet apart rapidly for prompt absorption.
✓ Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source): A natural plant-oil flow agent that keeps raw powders flowing smoothly through pressing equipment.

Proper Storage

Store in a cool, dry place after opening. Amino acid tablets naturally pull moisture from humid air if exposed. Keep the lid tightly sealed between uses, and avoid storing your bottle in humid bathrooms or near hot stovetops.

Manufacturer Quality & Lab Testing Standards

Raw material verification is critical when selecting daily supplements. Independent consumer testing frequently reveals that discount commodity brands and big box store supplements contain unlisted fillers, degraded active ingredients, or heavy metal contamination. NOW Foods operates one of the most advanced analytical testing operations in the dietary supplement industry, conducting tens of thousands of individual lab assays every month:

✓ In-House ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Laboratories: NOW maintains specialized on-site testing laboratories formally accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards, ensuring elite scientific competence and measurement accuracy.
✓ ICP-MS Heavy Metal Testing (Parts-Per-Billion): Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), raw materials and finished lots are tested for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, ensuring levels easily beat strict USP and California Proposition 65 limits.
✓ HPLC Molecular Identification & Potency Verification: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) confirms that every batch contains 100% pure L-enantiomer active lysine, verifying the absence of adulterants or inert D-isomers.
✓ Comprehensive Microbiological Screening: Automated testing screens out pathogenic organisms, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus, alongside strict yeast and mold specifications.
✓ Audited cGMP Compliance: Production facilities are independently audited and certified by UL Solutions and maintain an "A-rated" Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) rating through the Natural Products Association (NPA).

Complete Supplement Facts & Label Verification

Supplement Facts

Serving Size: 1 Tablet

Servings Per Container: 250

Description	Amount per Serving	% Daily Value
L-Lysine (from 1,270 mg L-Lysine Hydrochloride)	1 g (1,000 mg)	**

** Daily Value not established.

Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), Vegetarian Coating, Croscarmellose Sodium and Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source).

Allergen Declaration: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

Caution: For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.

Product Notes: This product has twice the L-Lysine (1,000 mg per tablet) as in our regular strength product (500 mg per tablet). NOW® L-Lysine is a pharmaceutical grade essential amino acid. Natural color variation may occur in this product. Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. Store in a cool, dry place after opening. Family owned since 1968.