Lysine supplementation of cereal foods: a retrospective.

During the period 1950-1975, protein and amino acid metabolism and its application to world nutrition problems constituted a major focus of nutrition research. A large part of this research was concerned with the potential benefits to be expected from lysine supplementation of cereal foods, stimulated by the availability, beginning in 1955, of commercial quantities of L-lysine monohydrochloride from industry. Events during this era and lessons learned are reviewed by the author, a participant in the commercialization of lysine.