Patient's question:
I have a childhood friend who suffers from phenylketonuria. She has been receiving treatment since she was a child, and her condition is currently manageable. Could you please tell me what foods people with phenylketonuria can eat?Doctor's answer:
Phenylketonuria is a common amino acid metabolic disease caused by a deficiency of enzymes in the phenylalanine metabolic pathway, resulting in phenylalanine being unable to convert into tyrosine. This leads to the accumulation of large amounts of metabolites such as phenylalanine in the urine of affected children. Neurological symptoms are the primary symptoms. If the head circumference is small in number, it is necessary to supplement sufficient nutrients for growth and development. If dietary therapy is not started until 5 months after birth, most children will have intellectual disability. The recurrence of tics and behavioral abnormalities can only be alleviated when dietary treatment begins at the age of 4-5. Phenylketonuria is a common amino acid metabolic disease, caused by a lack of enzymes in the phenylalanine metabolic pathway, resulting in phenylalanine being unable to transform into tyrosine.