1. What Do You Know About PKU?
What is phenylketonuria or PKU?
What causes PKU?
What are the effects of PKU on infants and children?
How is PKU diagnosed? When is testing conducted?
What is phenylalanine? Why is it important? T
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

2. What Do You Know About PKU?
How is PKU treated?
What is aspartame? By what trade names is it known?
Why must a person with PKU not use aspartame?
What special diet must a person with PKU follow?
What alternate food sources could help a person with PKU meet the daily requirements for protein? T
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

3. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
What is phenylketonuria or PKU?
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a disorder in which there is a deficiency of the enzyme that metabolizes phenylalanine in the liver.
What causes PKU?
PKU is inherited and is present at birth. Symptoms of PKU result from the buildup of phenylalanine to toxic levels in the blood.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

4. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
What are the effects of PKU on infants and children?
If not treated, babies born with PKU will experience abnormal brain development resulting in mental retardation. Once PKU is diagnosed, newborns are given a special diet to prevent buildup of phenylalanine. Infants with PKU, for example, cannot be breast-fed.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

5. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
How is PKU diagnosed? When is testing conducted?
Tests are available to diagnose PKU; the most common test currently used is the Guthrie test. In Texas, all newborns are required by state law to be tested for PKU a few days after birth.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

6. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
What is phenylalanine? Why is it important?
Phenylalanine is one of the essential amino acids, which make up protein. All essential amino acids must be present for protein synthesis to occur; therefore, some phenylalanine is required for the body to synthesize proteins.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

7. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
How is PKU treated?
PKU is treated through a special diet, which must begin before the infant is two years old and continue throughout the individual’s life.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

8. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
What is aspartame? By what trade names is it known?
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener composed of methanol and two amino acids—phenylalanine and aspartic acid. It is known by the trade names NutraSweet® and Equal®.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

9. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
Why must a person with PKU not use aspartame?
Aspartame cannot be used by a person with PKU because it contains phenylalanine as an additive.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

10. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
What special diet must a person with PKU follow?
The diet must avoid high-protein foods and include fruits, vegetables, and cereals. No soft drinks or other foods to which aspartame has been added can be consumed.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.

11. What Do You Know About PKU? Answer Key
What alternate food sources could help a person with PKU meet the daily requirements for protein?
Answers will vary. Infants must use a special formula since milk is not allowed.
Copyright © Notice: The materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of The Curriculum Center for Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas Tech University.