What can children with phenylketonuria not eat?

What can children with phenylketonuria not eat?

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.

What happens if you don’t follow PKU diet?

Untreated PKU can lead to: Irreversible brain damage and marked intellectual disability beginning within the first few months of life. Neurological problems such as seizures and tremors. Behavioral, emotional and social problems in older children and adults.

What foods can you not eat with PKU?

People with PKU must avoid foods that are high in protein like meat, fish, poultry, dairy, soy, legumes (dried beans) or nuts. Some fruits and vegetables are higher in protein than others.

What are the consequences of not treating a PKU baby with a phenylalanine restriction diet?

If PKU is untreated, phenylalanine will build up in the bloodstream until it reaches levels that can cause brain damage and other serious problems. With treatment and dietary restrictions, a child with PKU can grow and develop normally.

What can you eat with PKU?

The diet for PKU consists of a phenylalanine-free medical formula and carefully measured amounts of fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, and cereals. Many people who follow a low phenylalanine (phe) food pattern eat special low protein breads and pastas.

What happens if someone with PKU eats aspartame?

A dangerous buildup of phenylalanine can develop when a person with PKU eats protein-rich foods, such as milk, cheese, nuts or meat, and even grains such as bread and pasta, or eats aspartame, an artificial sweetener. This buildup of phenylalanine results in damage to nerve cells in the brain.

Are all babies tested for PKU?

Newborn blood testing identifies almost all cases of phenylketonuria. All 50 states in the United States require newborns to be screened for PKU. Many other countries also routinely screen infants for PKU. If you have PKU or a family history of it, your doctor may recommend screening tests before pregnancy or birth.

What foods can I eat with PKU?

What is the diet for phenylketonuria?

Diet. The main treatment for PKU is a low-protein diet that completely avoids high-protein foods (such as meat, eggs and dairy products) and controls the intake of many other foods, such as potatoes and cereals.

Why can’t you give PKU patients a no phenylalanine diet?

People with PKU cannot break down the amino acid phenylalanine, which then builds up in their blood and brain. This can lead to brain damage.

What happens if you don’t follow a PKU diet?

Adults with PKU who do not follow a special diet may develop unstable moods and take longer to process information. Adults with high phenylalanine levels who go back on a PKU diet may be able to improve their mental functioning and slow down any damage to their central nervous systems.

How much protein does a child with PKU need?

For children up to age 4, protein needs are 1.5 to 2.1 grams per kilogram of body weight. 7  Your healthcare provider can tell you how much protein you need each day and what your daily phenylalanine goal should be. The PKU diet is a life-long diet for anyone with PKU. It’s essential that infants and children follow it strictly.

What is compliance in PKU?

In PKU, compliance is complex, being subject to diverse definitions, and factors influencing compliance include the nature and nurture of the patient, as well as the inconvenience, cost and availability of dietary treatment. It is also a dynamic process, with many patients changing between a state of compliance and partial and noncompliance.

What is a low phenylalanine PKU diet?

Avoiding protein-rich foods is one of the basics of the PKU diet, as these choices are a major source of phenylalanine. Of course, your body still needs protein, so specially formulated medical foods help fill that gap. Following a low phenylalanine PKU diet will not cure the disorder, but it can help keep your symptoms under control.