[Effect of a space diet on valine concentrations in the blood]

The content of valine was measured in plasma of 6 healthy male test subjects who were either on a normal or Salyut-5 space diet for 30 days. The measurements were performed with the aid of a Hitachi KLA-3B amino acid analyzer. Unlike other studies, blood samples were withdrawn every 5 days. The results suggest that the postflight decrease of the valine content is associated with the food composition. This makes it necessary to improve the amino acid composition of space diets and the technology of their manufacture. The foodstuffs used in the recovery period should be supplemented with amino acids, particularly valine, to compensate for enhanced anabolic processes.