Phenylketonuria Diet: Understanding The Special Dietary Needs

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare genetic disorder that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body. The main treatment for PKU is a low-protein diet that focuses on low-protein foods and avoids high-protein foods. This diet includes medically manufactured low-protein foods such as bread and pasta, as well as medically formulated foods that are without phenylalanine.

Avoiding phenylalanine in food

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare genetic disorder that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body. The main treatment for PKU is a low-protein diet that focuses on low-protein foods and avoids high-protein foods.

The low-protein diet aims to prevent intellectual disability and other complications in people with PKU. It is important to note that no one standard phenylketonuria diet for every person with PKU.

Foods that are high in phenylalanine should be avoided. These include meat, eggs, dairy products, potatoes, and cereals. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame should also be avoided as they contain high amounts of phenylalanine.

People with PKU can maintain their energy levels by eating very low-protein foods as part of their diet without measuring their intake of them. However, it is important that people speak with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to their eating plan.

In addition to a low-protein diet, people with PKU may also need to avoid foods that contain phenylalanine. These foods include medically manufactured low-protein foods like bread and pasta.

Limiting protein intake

A low-protein diet is the main treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder that causes an amino acid phenylalanine to build up in the body. The aim of a PKU diet is to avoid protein-rich foods like meat, eggs, and dairy products while limiting your intake of foods like potatoes and cereals that contain significant amounts of phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is essential to building chemicals like dopamine and epinephrine that the brain and body need to function normally. But, the inability to break down phenylalanine can cause the amino acid to build up, leading to behavioral problems, intellectual disabilities, and even seizures.

All proteins contain phenylalanine. People following a PKU diet are typically advised to avoid foods high in protein, such as:

• Meat
• Eggs
• Dairy products
• Potatoes
• Cereals

The signs and symptoms of PKU can vary. They may be mild or severe. A person with mild PKU may not require any treatment. Typically, PKU is detected at birth. They work with dietitians who have PKU experience to create PKU diets. It is important that people speak with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to their eating plan.

Following a low-phenylalanine diet can prevent intellectual disability and other complications in people with PKU. The diet focuses on low protein foods and avoids high protein foods. Medically manufactured low protein foods such as bread and pasta are also available.

People with PKU can maintain their energy levels by eating very low protein foods. People with PKU can eat these foods as part of their diet without measuring their intake of them. However, if they do not get enough energy or calories when following a very low protein eating plan, it can lead to poor blood phenylalanine management.

Eating low-protein foods

A low-protein diet is the main treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder that causes an amino acid phenylalanine to build up in the body. The aim of a PKU diet is to avoid protein-rich foods like meat, eggs, and dairy products while limiting your intake of foods like potatoes and cereals that contain significant amounts of phenylalanine.

The main treatment for PKU is a special diet, and no one standard PKU diet for every person with PKU. Several low-protein versions of common foods are available for people with PKU. Some foods are also medically formulated without phenylalanine, allowing people with PKU to safely consume them. However, these foods are typically very expensive.

Following a low-phenylalanine diet can prevent intellectual disability and other complications in people with PKU. The diet focuses on low-protein foods and avoids high-protein foods. All proteins contain phenylalanine. People following a PKU diet are typically advised to avoid foods high in protein, such as meat, eggs, and dairy products.

People with PKU can eat these foods as part of their diet without measuring their intake of them. However, it is important that people speak with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to their eating plan.

The signs and symptoms of PKU can vary. They may be mild or severe. A person with mild PKU may not require any treatment. Typically, PKU is detected at birth. They work with dietitians who have PKU experience to create PKU diets.

Managing energy levels

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body. The main treatment for PKU is a low-protein diet. The aim of a PKU diet is to avoid protein-rich foods like meat, eggs, and dairy products while limiting your intake of foods like potatoes and cereals that contain significant amounts of phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is essential to building chemicals like dopamine and epinephrine that the brain and body need to function normally. But, the inability to break down phenylalanine can cause the amino acid to build up, leading to behavioral problems, intellectual disabilities, and even seizures.

Following a low-phenylalanine diet can prevent intellectual disability and other complications in people with PKU. The diet focuses on low protein foods and avoids high protein foods. All proteins contain phenylalanine. People following a PKU diet are typically advised to avoid foods high in protein, such as meat, eggs, and dairy products.

People with PKU can maintain their energy levels by eating very low protein foods. People with PKU can eat these foods as part of their diet without measuring their intake of them. However, it is important that people speak with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to their eating plan.

Some foods are also medically formulated without phenylalanine, allowing people with PKU to safely consume them. However, these foods are typically very expensive. Several low protein versions of common foods are available for people with PKU.

A PKU diet can also include medically manufactured low protein foods such as bread and pasta.

Consulting healthcare professionals

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare genetic disorder that causes an amino acid phenylalanine to build up in the body. The main treatment for PKU is a low-protein diet that focuses on low-phenylalanine foods and avoids high-protein foods.

Following a low-phenylalanine diet can prevent intellectual disability and other complications in people with PKU. The diet focuses on low-protein foods and avoids high-protein foods. All proteins contain phenylalanine. People following a PKU diet are typically advised to avoid foods high in protein, such as meat, eggs, and dairy products. They should also avoid the artificial sweetener aspartame, which contains high amounts of phenylalanine.

The aim of a PKU diet is to avoid protein-rich foods like meat, eggs, and dairy products while limiting your intake of foods like potatoes and cereals that contain significant amounts of phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is essential to building chemicals like dopamine and epinephrine that the brain and body need to function normally. But, the inability to break down phenylalanine can cause the amino acid to build up, leading to behavioral problems, intellectual disabilities, and even seizures.

It is important that people speak with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to their eating plan. Dietitians who have PKU experience can help create a PKU diet. They include: fats containing less than 1 gram of fat per 100 g, such as:

• Medically manufactured low-protein foods such as bread and pasta
• Low-protein versions of common foods
• Medically formulated foods without phenylalanine

However, these foods are typically very expensive.

Frequently asked questions