THE TRUTH ABOUT LYSINE, VIRAL RESILIENCE, WHY SO MANY HORSES ARE DEFICIENT AND HOW THAT DEFICIENCY MAY DIRECTLY LINK TO CONTRACTING THE VIRUS
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(Educational breakdown for EHV awareness — safe, accurate, science-grounded)
1. Why Lysine Matters During ANY Viral Threat (Including EHV)
Lysine is the first-limiting essential amino acid in horses and Lysine deficiency is a real concern because it is rarely appropriately balanced across all feed sources, if more than just hay. Even grass pasture is depleted heavily. Hay sources rapidly deplete within the first 6 months after cutting and depending on storage, can deplete up to 70%! Daily average requirement's for a mid age performance horse in decent condition is 28 grams or one ounce while young and aged performance horses require even higher. Rehabilitation needs reaching in the 40's in severe cases. It truly begs the question of how horses are even functioning with outdated ways of thinking. Times have changed, virus's have changed...... why haven't our supplementation outlooks within the industry? We know that the body needs a strong gut to create a strong immune resilience, yet our horses are continually compromised with very few understanding that anything that you try to manage gut issues with is no more than a Band-Aid if Lysine is not at the forefront.
Lysine aids in building a strong resilient gut by activating other amino acids, such as Arginine, that feed the virus once ingested as well as minerals such as calcium. With activation, Lysine pushes these into the body to be utilized. Without Lysine activation, these sit in the gut, moving very slowly through the digestive system, most often attaching to foreign particles that keep the buildup in the body even longer with creation of Erythrocyte's. With these buildup's, there is more than enough food to immediately feed the virus.
It is completely plausible that this is the reason horses are getting hit so hard, so fast with being seemingly fine leading up to it. The worst part is no one is doing anything technically wrong. Horses can look absolutely incredible, and you would never think Leaky Gut. Nutritionist continually preach "Amino Acids"- well, we're here to answer the call.
Why wouldn't we? We really need to stop being afraid of Lysine! Especially when horses can-not overdose on it and overload leans into 10 ounces per day for an extended period and even then is mostly just excreted with minimal overload to any organs. It takes a lot! And yet, horses on average, maybe receive 20 grams per day. Even the elite levels can have great deficiency. For everything that Lysine does within the body, the 28g/ day for mature performance horses is an outdated perspective. Our horses are not the same athletes that they used to be, they're more. Shouldn't their body requirement's change with?
We pride ourselves on keeping our formulas affordable and accessible, especially during high-risk seasons when horses need support the most. Lysine is not an expensive ingredient — even human-grade, nearly 100% pure lysine costs only about $200 for just over 100 lbs.
Because of that, we believe foundational nutrients shouldn’t come with inflated price tags. Our goal is to offer high-quality, human-grade ingredients in balanced, synergistic formulas that are realistically priced so every horse can get what they need, when they need it — without owners being stretched thin.
It is my sincere belief that "IF" we do not get a handle on this as stewards of these incredible creatures, it won't take much to take them out entirely.
Meaning:
Lysine is at the top of its class. When Lysine levels are adequate or above, other amino acids stay at adequate levels. As soon as Lysine drops off, not only do the other essential amino acids begin to fall but other amino’s and minerals that rely on Lysine for activation begin stacking up in the intestines. This in turn not only keeps horses in continual ulceration with a compromised gut and immune system but ultimately is the primary direct link to Leaky Gut.
If a horse is low in lysine, it cannot fully utilize protein, immune nutrients, or repair factors, or antioxidants — even if everything else in the diet looks “complete.”
And here’s the critical connection:
Viruses exploit amino-acid imbalance - especially herpes-family viruses (including EHV).
Herpes-type viruses rely heavily on arginine availability to replicate.
Lysine provides two major lines of support:
Direct antiviral interference
Adequate lysine helps competitively interfere with pathways herpes-type viruses rely on, resulting in:
Slowed viral replication
Blunted viral activation cycles
Extra time for the immune system to respond appropriately
This is not a cure — but it significantly shifts the advantage back toward the horse.
Balancing arginine (the fuel viruses love)
Arginine is not “bad.” Horses need it for tissue repair, nitric oxide production, and circulation…
BUT… Herpes-family viruses exploit excess free arginine as fuel.
Lysine naturally competes with arginine for transporters and conversion pathways.
So adequate lysine helps by:
preventing arginine overload
preventing viruses from hijacking arginine pathways
protecting immune tissues from being “starved” during immune activation
Most horses run high-arginine, low-lysine because:
Modern hay is lysine-poor
Non-forage feeds often rely on soybean meal or peas (arginine > lysine)
Horses in work have increased lysine requirements
Stress, travel, showing, and cold weather increase lysine demand even further
It is the perfect storm for viral vulnerability.
2. Why So Many Horses Are Lysine Deficient (Even on “Good” Diets)
This is the part that blows people’s minds:
Forage can meet caloric needs while failing amino-acid needs.
A horse can look “fat and glossy” but internally still be:
Immunocompromised
Behind on muscle and tissue repair
Low in antioxidant production
Behind on ligament/tendon/collagen turnover
Slow to respond to viral or inflammatory stress
More prone to soft-tissue issues
Modern forage is the problem.
Lysine in grass hay has dropped 30–60% in the past 15 years due to:
soil depletion
monoculture grasses
drought cycles
late-cut hay
modern fast-grow, low-nutrient seed genetics
Add stress, hauling, weather swings, or viral exposure (such as EHV risk)…
and the deficiency becomes dangerous.
This is why lysine is the foundation in our formulations — everything else depends on it.
3. The Synergy: Lysine + Noni + Beta Glucans = Immune Stability + Viral Pressure Support
Our DRV foundational trio delivers a multi-layered immune advantage.
Let’s outline WHY.
Lysine = Immune Foundation + Viral Replication Interference
During viral seasons (such as EHV), lysine supports:
Immune system activation strength
Faster mucosal turnover
Interferon pathway function
Balanced nitric oxide (prevents viral spread into tissues)
Maintenance of lymphocyte performance
Better fever response
Reduced “immune exhaustion” during long exposure
Lysine isn’t a “booster.”
It is the ground floor of a functional equine immune system and the reason it is such a large focus in the formulas.
Noni = Anti-inflammatory + Nitric oxide balance + Cellular resilience
Noni puree does three major things relevant to viral pressure:
Balances nitric oxide (NO) production
This is huge. It is crucial because:
Too much NO = viral spread, tissue irritation, hemorrhage risk, inflammation
Too little NO = poor circulation, poor immune cell deployment
Noni keeps NO within a functional range so immune cells function without destructive inflammation.
Enhances glutathione pathways
A healthy gut + strong intracellular antioxidant network =
faster viral clearance
less tissue damage
less oxidative stress during fever or inflammation
improved respiratory resilience
Supports cytokine balance
EHV can trigger cytokine overreaction in stressed or deficient horses.
Noni helps keep the immune response appropriate — strong but not self-damaging.
Beta Glucans (1,3/1,6) = Immune Synchronization + Faster Viral Recognition
This is where the trio becomes synergy, not just addition.
Beta glucans are the backbone of immune communication.
They:
Prime macrophages so they respond faster
Improve recognition of viral particles
Reduce “lag time” between exposure and immune activation response
Strengthen mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract
Support lymphoid tissue function
When facing a viral threat, timing is everything. During a viral outbreak, you want the immune system to respond immediately and correctly — not late, not overreactive, not exhausted.
BG’s are the “communication network” of the immune system, they ensure the immune system reacts immediately and correctly.
Why This Trio Works Better Together (True Synergy, Not Stacking)
Lysine stabilizes protein and immune repair, so immune cells can function as designed.
Noni regulates nitric oxide and inflammation, so the immune system stays strong without creating its own damage.
Beta Glucans boost immune recognition and activation, so the body reacts immediately to viral particles.
Together:
Lysine = Structure & Defense
Noni = Regulation & Resilience
Beta Glucans = Recognition & Amplification
This is the definition of Dynamic Resilience.
Simplicity
1. Lysine deficiency is the #1 overlooked weakness in modern horses.
Forage has changed, workloads have increased, and most horses are lysine-deficient without anyone realizing it.
2. Lysine helps support normal, healthy immune control over viruses, including herpes- type viruses.
It doesn’t cure disease — but it helps keep viral replication from progressing as quickly.
3. Arginine isn’t bad, but excess arginine fuels viral replication.
Lysine naturally helps balance that.
4. Noni and Beta Glucans work with lysine to support the horse’s entire immune system.
Noni = inflammation regulation + antioxidant support
Beta Glucans = faster immune recognition + mucosal immunity
5. Together, they create a faster, more balanced immune response.
That’s why your horses on DRV formulas tend to stay more stable through stress, hauling, weather changes, and viral exposure.
References
On amino‐acid balance, lysine & arginine, and herpes viruses in horses:
“How Can Lysine Supplementation Help Treat Equine Herpesvirus Infections?” — equinews article. Ker
“Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy” — mentions L-lysine as a competitive inhibitor of L-arginine (which herpesvirus uses). New England Equine
“Equine Herpesviruses 1 and 4 (EHV-1/EHV-4)” (IDEXX diagnostic update) — states “L-Arginine is an important amino‐acid necessary for herpes viral replication, whereas L-Lysine inhibits intestinal absorption of L-Arginine.” IDEXX
On β-glucans (1,3/1,6) and immune modulation in horses:
“Orally administered β-glucan improves the hemolytic activity…” (PMC article in horses) – shows feeding β-glucan improved complement activation. PMC
“Biological effects of β-D-glucans from natural sources on equine …” (ScienceDirect) – recent study emphasising therapeutic potential in horses including viral infections and immune dysfunction. ScienceDirect
“333 Beta 1-3,1-6 glucan supplementation modulates the immune …” (J. Anim Sci) — shows β-glucan modulated immune response during challenge in horses. OUP Academic
“Research Review_BetaGlucanImmuneChallenge” (Purina) — summary of equine study on yeast-derived β-glucan and immune challenge. purinamills.com
Complex Combination References:
For the lysine/arginine/viral replication section: use the IDEXX update, the equine news article, and the EHM pdf.
For the β-glucan immune support section: use the PMC article, the J. Anim Sci article, and the Purina review.
For the forage/lysine deficiency section: industry data widely indicates general nutrient shortage literature or industry reports and specific peer‐review's per regions on hay lysine drop.
