Lysine and salt-sensitive hypertension.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Salt-sensitive (SS) hypertension and its associated kidney damage have been extensively studied, yet proper therapeutic strategies are lacking. The interest in altering the metabolome to affect renal and cardiovascular disease has been emerging. Here, we discuss the effect and potential mechanism behind the protective effect of lysine, an essential amino acid, on the progression of SS hypertension.

RECENT FINDINGS: We have recently demonstrated that administering lysine in an SS rodent model can control the progression of hypertension. Both the animal and pilot human studies showed that lysine can efficiently inhibit tubular reabsorption of albumin and protect the kidneys from further damage. In addition, we conducted multilevel omics studies that showed increased lysine conjugation and excretion, leading to the depletion of harmful metabolites and an increase in useful ones.

SUMMARY: Lysine's twofold action involves both mechanically flushing protein from proximal tubules to shield the kidneys and initiating metabolic adaptations in the kidneys. This results in a net positive impact on SS hypertension. While further research is necessary to apply the current findings in clinical settings, this study offers some evidence suggesting that lysine supplementation holds promise as a therapeutic approach for hypertensive kidney disease.