The development of food materials other than those derived directly from
animal or vegetable origin is of interest. Advantages of such diets may
be low residue, ease of storage, rehydration, and manipulation.
Experiments with chemically defined synthetic diet for humans have been
carried out by Medical Sciences Research Foundation, San Mateo, Calif.
The complete liquid diet is composed of required amino acids, fat,
carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals. A cubic foot of the diet (50
percent solids in H₂O) supplies 2500 calories per day for 1 month, and
has been given a variety of artificial flavors.
This synthetic diet has been fed to human volunteers for 6 months in a
pilot study at the California Medical Facility, Vacaville, Calif., and
the results are being reviewed. Schwarz Bioresearch, Inc., is studying
the storage, stability, and packaging of chemically defined synthetic
diets for human and animal flights.