Table of Contents
What happens if someone with PKU eats aspartame?
Without the enzyme necessary to break down phenylalanine, a dangerous buildup can develop when a person with PKU eats foods that contain protein or eats aspartame, an artificial sweetener. This can eventually lead to serious health problems.
Why can’t people with PKU consume aspartame?
However, certain people with the genetic disease phenylketonuria (PKU), those with advanced liver disease, and pregnant women with hyperphenylalanine (high levels of phenylalanine in blood) have a problem with aspartame because they do not effectively metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine, one of aspartame’s …
Are PKU carriers affected?
CAUSE AND INCIDENCE OF PKU This means an affected person inherited two genetic defects for the disorder (one from each parent). A person with one genetic defect for the disorder, is called a ‘carrier’ for PKU. Carriers do not have symptoms of the disorder.
What are the odds of being a PKU carrier?
When both parents are carriers of the faulty PKU gene, their child will be born with PKU if they receive one copy of the faulty gene from each parent. When both parents are carriers, the possibilities in each pregnancy are: 1 in 4 chance of having an affected child. 2 in 4 chance of having a child that is a carrier.
Which of the following should be avoided by people with PKU?
Children and adults with PKU should eat a low-protein diet. They should avoid high-protein foods, like milk, dairy, meats, eggs, nuts, soy, and beans. A person with PKU also should avoid the artificial sweetener aspartame, which contains phenylalanine.
Is aspartame a phenylalanine?
The artificial sweetener aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet), which is added to many medications, diet foods and diet sodas, contains phenylalanine.
Can PKU patients have sucralose?
Sucralose is a better choice if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic condition, as aspartame contains the amino acid phenylalanine. Additionally, if you have kidney issues, you should keep your aspartame intake to a minimum, as this sweetener has been linked to added kidney strain ( 33 ).
What outcome is likely if both parents are carriers of PKU?
If both of a child’s parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance that each parent will pass on the normal PAH gene. In this case, the child will not have the disorder. Conversely, there also is a 25% chance that the carrier parents will both pass along the mutated gene, causing the child to have PKU.
Can you get PKU later in life?
Although it is principally a childhood disorder, in rare cases, the first signs of PKU may develop in late adulthood resembling common neurological diseases.
How do you know if you are a carrier of PKU?
If you or your partner has PKU or is a PKU carrier, you can have a prenatal test to find out if your baby has PKU or is a carrier. You can have either of these tests: Chorionic villus sampling (also called CVS). This test checks tissue from the placenta for birth defects and genetic conditions.
Why is there a warning label for individuals with PKU on foods containing aspartame?
Federal regulations require that any beverage or food that contains aspartame bear this warning: “Phenylketonurics: Contains phenylalanine.” This warning helps people with PKU avoid products that are a source of phenylalanine.
Can you have mild PKU?
Summary. Mild phenylketonuria is a rare form of phenylketouria (PKU variant), an inborn error of amino acid metabolism, characterized by symptoms of PKU of mild to moderate severity. Patients with blood phenylalanine concentrations of 600-1,200 micromol/L are considered to have mild PKU.
What happens if you eat aspartame if you have PKU?
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. This can eventually lead to serious health problems.
Does aspartame contain phenylalanine?
Since phenylalanine is one of the two amino acids that make up aspartame, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all foods and beverages containing aspartame to include the following statement on their labels: “Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine.”
What does PKU stand for in allergies?
PKU, Allergies and Other Sensitivities. Phenylketonuria. Phenylketonuria, commonly known as PKU, is a rare inherited disorder that causes elevated levels of the amino acid phenylalanine in the blood.
What is the cause of PKU?
Causes. A defective gene (genetic mutation) causes PKU, which can be mild, moderate or severe. In a person with PKU, this defective gene causes a lack of or deficiency of the enzyme that’s needed to process phenylalanine, an amino acid.