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| Food Name | Lysine | Protein | Score |
| Butter, salted | 67 | 0.85 | 155 |
| Butter, whipped, with salt | 67 | 0.85 | 155 |
| Butter oil, anhydrous | 22 | 0.28 | 154 |
| Cheese, blue | 1852 | 21.40 | 170 |
| Cheese, brick | 2124 | 23.24 | 179 |
| Cheese, brie | 1851 | 20.75 | 175 |
| Cheese, camembert | 1766 | 19.80 | 175 |
| Cheese, caraway | 2095 | 25.18 | 163 |
| Cheese, cheddar | 2072 | 24.90 | 163 |
| Cheese, cheshire | 1945 | 23.37 | 163 |
| Cheese, colby | 1978 | 23.76 | 163 |
| Cheese, cottage, creamed, large or small curd | 934 | 11.12 | 165 |
| Cheese, cottage, creamed, with fruit | 859 | 10.69 | 158 |
| Cheese, cottage, nonfat, uncreamed, dry, large or small curd | 868 | 10.34 | 165 |
|
Usage Note
- Amino acid content is in milligrams, protein value in grams, and are measured per
100g of food weight.
- Click on column header to sort foods by name or by column's content.
- Amino-Acid Score:
- The score is the ratio of the amino acid in the food's protein over the same amino
acid in the reference protein expressed in percentage.
- This score is for determining the limiting amino acid in a food item. A score below
100 indicates that a food's protein is incomplete. However, a score higher than 100 for a particular
amino acid does not necessarily mean that a food's protein is complete. Scores of
other essential amino acids of the food also have to be 100 or higher for its protein to be
considered complete.
- The limiting amino acid of a food is defined as the essential amino acid present
in the lowest amount compared to a reference protein or to human requirements.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are organic compounds that combine to form proteins. When proteins are
digested, amino acids are left. The human body requires a number of amino acids
to grow and breakdown food.
Amino acids are classified into two groups: essential and nonessential amino acids.
- Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body and must be supplied by food. These
include leucine, lysine, tryptophan, etc. Sources of essential amino acids include
milk, cheese, eggs, certain meats, vegetables, nuts, and grains.
- Nonessential amino acids can be made by the body from the essential amino acids
or normal breakdown of proteins. They include aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and
glycine, etc.
Complete Protein
A complete protein (or whole protein) is a source of protein that contains
an adequate proportion of all nine of the essential amino acids necessary for the
dietary needs of humans or other animals. Some incomplete protein sources may contain
all essential amino acids, but a complete protein contains them in correct proportions
for supporting biological functions in the human body.
Lysine
Lysine is an essential amino acid in humans and other mammals.
Lysine is the limiting amino acid (the essential amino acid found in the smallest
quantity in the particular foodstuff) in most cereal grains, but is plentiful in
most legumes. Consequently, meals that combine cereal grains and legumes,
such as the Indian dal with rice, Middle Eastern hummus, ful medames, falafel with
pita bread, the Mexican beans with rice or tortilla have arisen to provide complete
protein in diets that are, by choice or by necessity, vegetarian. A food is considered
to have sufficient lysine if it has at least 51 mg of lysine per gram of protein
(so that the protein is 5.1% lysine).
Use of Lysine
Herpes Simplex Management:
Some studies have found that consuming lysine on a regular basis may help prevent outbreaks of cold sores and genital herpes.
Lysine has antiviral effects by blocking the activity or arginine, which promotes HSV replication.
Osteoporosis:
Lysine helps the body absorb calcium and decreases the amount of calcium that is lost in urine. Because calcium is crucial for bone health, some researchers think lysine may help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis.
Our Protein and Amino Acid Online Databases
See our most complete directory of Protein and Amino Acid Online Databases with nutrient databases from the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, etc.
Lysine Food Sources
List of 120 foods highest in lysine. Lysine content is in grams per 100 grams of
food weight.
| Foods Rich in Lysine |
Lysine (g) |
| Seal, bearded (Oogruk), meat, dried (Alaska Native) |
6.690 |
| Whale, beluga, meat, dried (Alaska Native) |
6.313 |
| Fish, cod, Atlantic, dried and salted |
5.769 |
| Soy protein isolate, PROTEIN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, SUPRO |
5.500 |
| Soy protein isolate, PROTEIN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, ProPlus |
5.400 |
| Soy protein isolate |
5.327 |
| Soy protein isolate, potassium type |
5.327 |
| Soy protein isolate, potassium type, crude protein basis |
5.327 |
| Egg, white, dried, powder, glucose reduced |
5.076 |
| Seal, bearded (Oogruk), meat, partially dried (Alaska Native) |
5.052 |
| Fish, whitefish, dried (Alaska Native) |
4.770 |
| Egg, white, dried, flakes, glucose reduced |
4.738 |
| Soy protein concentrate, produced by alcohol extraction |
3.929 |
| Soy protein concentrate, produced by acid wash |
3.929 |
| Soy protein concentrate, crude protein basis (N x 6.25), produced by acid wash |
3.929 |
| Egg Mix, USDA Commodity |
3.909 |
| Cheese, parmesan, shredded |
3.843 |
| Smelt, dried (Alaska Native) |
3.690 |
| Beef, loin, top sirloin filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
3.551 |
| Beef, plate steak, boneless, inside skirt, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
3.535 |
| Gelatins, dry powder, unsweetened |
3.460 |
| Beef, top loin filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
3.443 |
| Beef, loin, top sirloin petite roast, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, |
3.386 |
| Beef, rib, back ribs, bone-in, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, braised |
3.377 |
| Beef, rib eye steak, boneless, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
3.343 |
| Beef, rib eye steak, boneless, lip off, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
3.343 |
| Beef, rib eye roast, boneless, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, roasted |
3.313 |
| Foods Rich in Lysine |
Lysine (g) |
| Cheese, parmesan, hard |
3.306 |
| Beef, plate steak, boneless, outside skirt, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
3.305 |
| Beef, top loin petite roast, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, roasted |
3.286 |
| Leavening agents, yeast, baker's, active dry |
3.280 |
| Beef, ribeye petite roast, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, roasted |
3.273 |
| Beef, loin, top sirloin cap steak, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, |
3.271 |
| Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat only, cooked, rotisserie, original seasoning |
3.257 |
| Egg, whole, dried, stabilized, glucose reduced |
3.252 |
| Game meat, beaver, cooked, roasted |
3.240 |
| Beef, rib eye steak, bone-in, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
3.225 |
| Beef, loin, top sirloin filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, grilled |
3.214 |
| Pork, cured, bacon, cooked, microwaved |
3.204 |
| Beef, ribeye filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
3.194 |
| Pork, cured, bacon, cooked, broiled, pan-fried or roasted |
3.180 |
| Pork, cured, bacon, cooked, pan-fried |
3.180 |
| Tofu, dried-frozen (koyadofu) |
3.157 |
| Tofu, dried-frozen (koyadofu), prepared with calcium sulfate |
3.157 |
| Beef, plate steak, boneless, inside skirt, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, |
3.152 |
| Lamb, domestic, shoulder, arm, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, cooked, braised |
3.138 |
| Game meat, bison, chuck, shoulder clod, separable lean only, 3-5 lb roast, cooked, braised |
3.134 |
| Soy flour, defatted |
3.129 |
| Soy flour, defatted, crude protein basis (N x 6.25) |
3.129 |
| Beef, rib eye roast, bone-in, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, roasted |
3.118 |
| Parsley, freeze-dried |
3.115 |
| Soy flour, low-fat, crude protein basis (N x 6.25) |
3.097 |
| Beef, top loin filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, cooked, grilled |
3.083 |
| Pork, cured, bacon, cooked, broiled, pan-fried or roasted, reduced sodium |
3.072 |
| Beef, loin, top sirloin petite roast, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, |
3.061 |
| Beef, round, top round, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, braised |
3.053 |
| Beef, loin, top sirloin filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, choice, cooked, grilled |
3.036 |
| Foods High in Lysine |
Lysine (g) |
| Veal, leg (top round), separable lean only, cooked, braised |
3.025 |
| Seaweed, spirulina, dried |
3.025 |
| Beef, ribeye filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, grilled |
3.024 |
| Lamb, Australian, imported, fresh, shoulder, arm, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, cooked, |
3.018 |
| Beef, chuck, mock tender steak, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, choice, cooked, |
3.018 |
| Beef, round, top round, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, braised |
3.010 |
| Lamb, New Zealand, imported, frozen, shoulder, whole (arm and blade), separable lean only, cooked, |
3.007 |
| Beef, round, top round, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, choice, cooked, braised |
3.006 |
| Beef, round, top round, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, braised |
3.006 |
| Mutton, cooked, roasted (Navajo) |
2.999 |
| Beef, chuck, mock tender steak, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, |
2.997 |
| Soy meal, defatted, raw, crude protein basis (N x 6.25) |
2.991 |
| Soy meal, defatted, raw |
2.991 |
| Beef, rib, back ribs, bone-in, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, braised |
2.981 |
| Veal, leg (top round), separable lean and fat, cooked, braised |
2.980 |
| Cheese, parmesan, grated |
2.980 |
| Beef, top loin petite roast, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, cooked, |
2.978 |
| Lamb, domestic, cubed for stew or kabob (leg and shoulder), separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, |
2.975 |
| Beef, plate steak, boneless, inside skirt, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
2.973 |
| Beef, loin, top sirloin cap steak, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, cooked, |
2.970 |
| Beef, rib eye roast, boneless, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, cooked, |
2.965 |
| Beef, chuck, mock tender steak, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, |
2.965 |
| Pork, cured, bacon, cooked, baked |
2.964 |
| Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat and skin, cooked, rotisserie, original seasoning |
2.963 |
| Beef, round, top round, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 0" fat, choice, cooked, braised |
2.963 |
| Beef, round, top round, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, braised |
2.963 |
| Beef, ribeye petite roast, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, roasted |
2.959 |
| Beef, rib eye steak, boneless, lip off, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, grilled |
2.955 |
| Foods High in Lysine |
Lysine (g) |
| Beef, round, bottom round, steak, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, braised |
2.952 |
| CRACKER BARREL, grilled sirloin steak |
2.949 |
| Beef, plate steak, boneless, inside skirt, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, choice, cooked, grilled |
2.948 |
| Veal, shoulder, arm, separable lean only, cooked, braised |
2.944 |
| Beef, rib eye steak, boneless, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, cooked, grilled |
2.940 |
| Beef, chuck, arm pot roast, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, choice, cooked, braised |
2.934 |
| Mollusks, whelk, unspecified, cooked, moist heat |
2.930 |
| Beef, chuck, arm pot roast, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, cooked, braised |
2.929 |
| Beef, chuck, arm pot roast, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, braised |
2.924 |
| Beef, chuck for stew, separable lean and fat, choice, cooked, braised |
2.923 |
| Beef, ribeye cap steak, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled |
2.916 |
| Beef, chuck for stew, separable lean and fat, all grades, cooked, braised |
2.916 |
| Game meat, deer, shoulder clod, separable lean only, 3-5 lb roast, cooked, braised |
2.914 |
| Beef, round, bottom round, steak, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, braised |
2.912 |
| Beef, plate steak, boneless, outside skirt, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, all grades, cooked, |
2.909 |
| Turkey, fryer-roasters, wing, meat only, cooked, roasted |
2.907 |
| Beef, round, bottom round, steak, separable lean and fat, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, braised |
2.906 |
| Beef, chuck for stew, separable lean and fat, select, cooked, braised |
2.905 |
| Beef, round, bottom round, steak, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, cooked, braised |
2.902 |
| Lamb, domestic, shoulder, whole (arm and blade), separable lean only, trimmed to 1/4" fat, choice, |
2.897 |
| Beef, round, bottom round, steak, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, choice, cooked, braised |
2.892 |
| Game meat, rabbit, wild, cooked, stewed |
2.891 |
| Beef, top loin filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, choice, cooked, grilled |
2.891 |
| Beef, loin, top sirloin petite roast, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, choice, cooked, |
2.889 |
| Beef, chuck eye Country-Style ribs, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, |
2.888 |
| Beef, rib eye steak, bone-in, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, cooked, grilled |
2.880 |
| Beef, chuck, under blade steak, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, braised |
2.880 |
| Veal, cubed for stew (leg and shoulder), separable lean only, cooked, braised |
2.879 |
| Beef, loin, bottom sirloin butt, tri-tip steak, separable lean only, trimmed 0" fat, all grades, cooked, |
2.879 |
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