Question
What types of food can phenylketonuria patients eat?
Answer
Phenylketonuria is a common amino acid metabolic disorder caused by an enzyme defect in the phenylalanine metabolic pathway, leading to the inability of phenylalanine to be converted into tyrosine, thereby causing a large accumulation of phenylalanine and other metabolic products in the urine of affected children. The main symptoms are neurological. If dietary treatment is started within five months after birth, most children’s intellectual disabilities, seizures, and behavioral abnormalities can be alleviated. Phenylketonuria patients should avoid excessive intake of phenylalanine while also ensuring sufficient nutrition to promote growth and development. In dietary treatment, low-phenylalanine foods should be chosen, and an individualized dietary plan should be formulated based on the advice of a nutritionist.