A Dietary Evaluation of Synthetic Amino Acid Amides

SUMMARY Growth of mice on a complete synthetic diet has been used to determine the ability of synthetic amino acid derivatives to replace the corresponding essential metabolites in nutrition. In a series of range‐finding experiments, it was found that dietary valine, phenylalanine, leucine, methionine, and, to a lesser extent, isoleucine could be effectively replaced by the corresponding DL‐amides or amide salts. In addition, DL‐valinamide salts could be administered in aqueous solution to supplement a solid valine‐free diet. The physical, chemical, and biological properties of amino acid amide salts may make them of special value in protein supplementation.