Are Phenylketonurics bad for you?

Nutrition and healthy eating However, for people who have the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) or certain other health conditions phenylalanine can be a serious health concern. Phenylalanine can cause intellectual disabilities, brain damage, seizures and other problems in people with PKU .

What is Phenylketonurics?

: an inherited metabolic disorder caused by an enzyme deficiency resulting in accumulation of phenylalanine and its metabolites in the blood causing usually severe intellectual disability and seizures unless phenylalanine is restricted from the diet beginning at birth —abbreviation PKU.

What causes Phenylketonurics?

PKU is caused by a defect in the gene that helps create the enzyme needed to break down phenylalanine. Without the enzyme necessary to process phenylalanine, a dangerous buildup can develop when a person with PKU eats foods that contain protein or eats aspartame, an artificial sweetener.

Why is Phenylketonurics in soda?

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.e it is unable to metabolise it).

What do you need to know about phenylketonuria (PKU)?

is a rare inherited disorder that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body.

What does phenylketonuria mean?

Definition of phenylketonuria. : an inherited metabolic disorder caused by an enzyme deficiency resulting in accumulation of phenylalanine and its metabolites in the blood causing usually severe intellectual disability and seizures unless phenylalanine is restricted from the diet beginning at birth —abbreviation PKU .

What does the phenylketonuria (PKU) test result mean?

A phenylketonuria (PKU) test is done to check whether a new baby has the enzyme needed to use phenylalanine in his or her body. If the heel stick screening test shows high phenylalanine levels, a blood sample is taken from your baby’s vein to confirm whether he or she has PKU. Your baby was born early (premature).

Is phenylketonuria recessive or dominant?

Phenylketonuria ( PKU ) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase ( PAH ). This enzyme is necessary to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine to the amino acid tyrosine .