Foods Highest in Lysine

4,914 foods ranked by Lysine per 100 g.

These are the foods highest in Lysine, ranked by the amount per 100 g of the edible portion. Lysine is an essential amino acid central to making collagen and carnitine, absorbing calcium, and supporting immune function. It is the "limiting" amino acid in grains — the one in shortest supply — which is why combining grains with legumes rounds out plant protein.

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Values per 100 g.

Food	Lysine
Seal, bearded (Oogruk), meat, dried (Alaska Native)	6.69 g
Whale, beluga, meat, dried (Alaska Native)	6.31 g
Fish, cod, Atlantic, dried and salted	5.77 g
Egg, white, dried	5.52 g
Soy protein isolate, PROTEIN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, SUPRO	5.50 g
Soy protein isolate, PROTEIN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, ProPlus	5.40 g
Soy protein isolate, potassium type	5.33 g
Soy protein isolate, potassium type, crude protein basis	5.33 g
Soy protein isolate	5.33 g
Egg, white, dried, powder, glucose reduced	5.08 g
Seal, bearded (Oogruk), meat, partially dried (Alaska Native)	5.05 g
Fish, whitefish, dried (Alaska Native)	4.77 g
Egg, white, dried, flakes, glucose reduced	4.74 g
Soy protein concentrate, produced by acid wash	3.93 g
Soy protein concentrate, crude protein basis (N x 6.25), produced by acid wash	3.93 g
Soy protein concentrate, produced by alcohol extraction	3.93 g
Egg Mix, USDA Commodity	3.91 g
Cheese, parmesan, shredded	3.84 g
Smelt, dried (Alaska Native)	3.69 g
Beef, loin, top sirloin filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled	3.55 g
Beef, plate steak, boneless, inside skirt, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled	3.54 g
Gelatins, dry powder, unsweetened	3.46 g
Beef, top loin filet, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, grilled	3.44 g
Egg, whole, dried	3.40 g
Beef, loin, top sirloin petite roast, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, roasted	3.39 g
Beef, rib, back ribs, bone-in, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, braised	3.38 g
Beef, rib eye steak, boneless, lip off, separable lean only, trimmed to 0" fat, select, cooked, grilled	3.34 g
Beef, rib eye steak, boneless, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, grilled	3.34 g
Beef, rib eye roast, boneless, lip-on, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, select, cooked, roasted	3.31 g
Cheese, parmesan, hard	3.31 g

Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, soy, lentils and other legumes. Amounts are per 100 g of the edible portion; your serving may differ.

Lysine — frequently asked questions

What foods are highest in Lysine?

Per 100 g, some of the richest sources are Seal, bearded (Oogruk), meat, dried (Alaska Native), Whale, beluga, meat, dried (Alaska Native), Fish, cod, Atlantic, dried and salted, Egg, white, dried and Soy protein isolate, PROTEIN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, SUPRO. See the full ranking above.

How much Lysine do I need a day?

There is no FDA Daily Value for individual amino acids. The WHO estimate is about 30 mg per kg of body weight per day; pairing grains with beans or eating animal protein covers it.

What does Lysine do?

Lysine is an essential amino acid central to making collagen and carnitine, absorbing calcium, and supporting immune function. It is the "limiting" amino acid in grains — the one in shortest supply — which is why combining grains with legumes rounds out plant protein.

Foods Highest in Lysine

Lysine — frequently asked questions

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