How Do You Follow A PKU Diet?
Phenylketonuria, or PKU for short, is a genetic disorder characterized by the absence or deficiency of the bodily enzyme needed to process phenylalanine, an essential amino acid found in protein. Patients are required to follow a strict diet from birth onwards to prevent the disease’s serious neurological complications. Do not feed a PKU-positive infant regular baby formula or natural breast milk. Both are high in phenylalanine. Feed your baby a special PKU-friendly formula that safely substitutes the essential nutrients found in phenylalanine. Avoid feeding your child any protein-rich foods, such as beans, meat, fish, eggs, nuts, legumes and dairy as she continues to grow. Older children are instead given a special drink which, though different in makeup from the special formula fed to infants, still limits phenylalanine intake while providing necessary nutrients. Do not permit your child to eat anything flavored with artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame. When digested, aspar
