Those of us that have PKU must follow a strict "low protein" diet to avoid all food sources that have high phenylalanine content. To get adequate amounts of other amino acids found in protein without the damaging phenylalanine , people with PKU also have to take a special formula which is usually in the form of a liquid beverage. If those of us that have PKU do not follow a strict low protein diet, phenylalanine is not adequately digested in our bodies and it builds up in our blood in the form of an acid called phenylpyruvic acid.
Depending on the severity of the PKU, babies who were not treated for the disorder and put on the special diet at birth run the risk of suffering irreversible mental retardation within the first year of life. PKU is certainly a detrimental disorder if not treated properly, but the prognosis isn't nearly as grim as the preceding paragraph suggests.
If babies are put on the low protein diet at a young age, and they follow the diet throughout life, there is no evidence that their PKU will be a major hindrance in their accomplishments.
In fact, in some cases, myself included people with PKU view their disorder as being a positive trait, one which has taught them to be more self-disciplined. In the past, children were taken off the low protein PKU diet at age 5 or 6 because it was believed that at this age the brain had developed to the point where elevated levels of phenylpyruvic acid in the blood would not cause severe health problems.
These children are now adults; many of them have noticed health problems and have decided, of their own accord, to return to the PKU diet. These days, most doctors that provide care for PKU patients preach that the low protein PKU diet should be a way of life and, if we value our health and well-being, those of us with the disorder should never stray from it.
One question that I often get asked by people who read this webpage - "Is phenylalanine harmful to people that don't have PKU? If phenylalanine is in it's natural form, then the answer to this question is a great big resounding NO. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address.
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See more conditions. Request Appointment. Healthy Lifestyle Nutrition and healthy eating. Products and services. My favorite diet soda has a warning about phenylalanine. Is phenylalanine bad for your health? Just type the word into a Net search engine and see what comes up Neil Perry, London If you suffer from an inherited metabolic disorder called Phenylketonuria it's a bad thing, as it leads to learning difficulties.
For most of us its a harmless amino-acid. I believe the artificial sweetner aspartame is the usual source in foods. Derek Turner, Stratford-upon-Avon Phenylalanine is one of the amino acids which make up most proteins. The only people who should be concerned about its presence in Coke or any other food are PKU sufferers.
PKU phenylkleptonuria is a conditon where the body has an intolerance to this particular amino acid i. Sufferers have to adhere to a very strict diet until their late teens. It is one of the few conditions that all new born babies are automatically tested for. If it goes undetected it can lead to brain damage within a matter of weeks. Once the central nervous system is fully developed however it becomes less of a problem. Gary Nash, Brighton, E. Sussex Quite apart from all of the possible effects already mentioned, consuming too much of products containing phenylalanine notably sugar-free gum and sweets can produce a laxative effect However, contrary to the answer above, it is NOT only PKU users who should worry about aspartame the foods labeled with the warning contain aspartame.
People with PKU have too much phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid found in protein sources such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products.
If you have this condition, aspartame is highly toxic. Tardive dyskinesia TD is thought to be a side effect of some schizophrenia medications. The phenylalanine in aspartame may precipitate the uncontrolled muscle movements of TD. Research is ongoing to confirm or invalidate connections between these ailments and aspartame, but currently there is still inconsistent outcomes in studies.
Some research reports increased risk, symptoms or disease acceleration, while others report no negative outcomes with aspartame intake. When it comes to diabetes and weight loss, one of the first steps many people take is to cut empty calories from their diets. This often includes sugar. Aspartame has both pros and cons when considering diabetes and obesity. First, the Mayo Clinic states that, in general, artificial sweeteners may be beneficial for those with diabetes.
Sweeteners may also help weight loss efforts, but this is usually only the case if you consume a lot of sugar-containing products before trying to lose weight. Switching from sugary products to those containing artificial sweeteners may also reduce the risk of cavities and tooth decay. According to a PLoS One study , rats that were fed aspartame had lower body masses overall.
One caveat to the results was that these same rats also had more gut bacteria as well as increased blood sugar. This increase in blood glucose was also linked to insulin resistance. The research is far from conclusive about how aspartame and other nonnutritive sweeteners affect these diseases and others. The controversy over aspartame continues. Before you switch back to sugar which is high in calories and has no nutritional value , you can consider natural alternatives to aspartame.
You may try sweetening foods and beverages with:. Like sugar, natural alternatives to aspartame can contain a lot of calories with little to no nutritional value.
Public concern over aspartame remains alive and well today.
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