One of meldonium early uses was in animals the drug was specifically used to enhance the sexual performance and sperm motility of boars. Its license was later expanded for use in humans.
Meldonium is produced by the Latvian pharmaceutical company Grindex. With sales of the drug reaching 56 million euros in 2010, it is only of Latvia's biggest medical exports in the world.To the use of meldonium for cardiac health issues, large quantities of the drug were shipped to Soviet troops in Bosnia between 1979 and 1989.
According to the drugs author, Ivar Kalvins CEO of the scientific board of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis – it was created to increase the body's oxygen-carrying capacity.
Because of Afghanistan's mountainous terrain and the need to carry big bags, Soviet soldiers would take to increase their endurance in the oxygen reduced air