Fig. 5From: Lysine supplementation is not effective for the prevention or treatment of feline herpesvirus 1 infection in cats: a systematic reviewSchematic summary of our conclusion. Top. In the old model [10, 11, 13], it was assumed that supplementing cat food with lysine would lower plasma and tissue arginine (green triangles) to such low concentrations that FHV-1 would be unable to synthesize enough of its arginine-rich proteins. Bottom. In our evidence-based model, lysine supplementation does not lower arginine levels, and the synthesis of feline herpesvirus 1 proteins, which are not excessively rich in arginine (green triangles on virion), is not inhibitedBack to article page