What is phenylalanine in food?
Phenylalanine is an amino acid found in many foods and used by your body to produce proteins and other important molecules. It has been studied for its effects on depression, pain and skin disorders.
What is the role of phenylalanine?
Function: The essential amino acid L-phenylalanine (Phe) is needed for the synthesis of proteins, catecholamines, and melanin; it is also an important precursor of the amino acid L-tyrosine (Tyr).
What is phenylalanine is it bad for you?
Phenylalanine can cause intellectual disabilities, brain damage, seizures and other problems in people with PKU . Phenylalanine occurs naturally in many protein-rich foods, such as milk, eggs and meat. Phenylalanine is also sold as a dietary supplement.
Why phenylalanine is toxic?
This enzyme converts the amino acid phenylalanine to other important compounds in the body. If gene mutations reduce the activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase, phenylalanine from the diet is not processed effectively. As a result, this amino acid can build up to toxic levels in the blood and other tissues.
How is phenylalanine metabolized?
Phenylalanine is metabolized into acetoacetic acid and fumaric acid via tyrosine. A tyrosine metabolite, DOPA, is converted into the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine. By this metabolism, the concentration of phenylalanine in the blood is elevated.
Does phenylalanine raise blood sugar?
Conclusion: In summary, phenylalanine in an amount moderately greater than that in a large protein meal stimulates an increase in insulin and glucagon concentration. It markedly attenuates the glucose-induced rise in plasma glucose when ingested with glucose.
How is phenylalanine produced?
The phenylalanine enzyme is a chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydratase that generates phenylpyruvate, which is transaminated to form phenylalanine. The tyrosine enzyme is a chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydrogenase that produces 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, which forms tyrosine after transamination (Figure 8).
Why is phenylalanine in drinks?
Phenylalanine does effect the brain, and could be used as natural antidepressant (look up L phenylalanine antidepressant). The small amount in soft drinks though has only a very mild antidepressant effect.
What is phenylalanine side effects?
Side effects may include:
- Heartburn.
- Fatigue.
- Nausea.
- Constipation.
- Dizziness.
- Headache.
- Anxiety and hypomania (a milder form of mania)
- Sedation.
Where does phenylalanine metabolism occur?
liver
Under normal physiological conditions, phenylalanine is largely metabolized in the liver and in other tissues to produce tyrosine, and then in the nervous system and adrenal medulla, synthesis of certain neurotransmitters and hormones, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and melanin, occurs [26].
What should you know about phenylalanine in food?
Federal regulations require that any beverage or food that contains aspartame bear this warning: “Phenylketonurics: Contains phenylalanine.” This warning helps people with PKU avoid products that are a source of phenylalanine.
Are there any diet sodas that contain phenylalanine?
The artificial sweetener aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet), which is added to many medications, diet foods and diet sodas, contains phenylalanine. Federal regulations require that any beverage or food that contains aspartame bear this warning: “Phenylketonurics: Contains phenylalanine.”.
What kind of supplement is DL-Phenylalanine ( DLPA )?
DL -Phenylalanine (DLPA) is marketed as a nutritional supplement for its purported analgesic and antidepressant activities. DL -Phenylalanine is a mixture of D -phenylalanine and L -phenylalanine.
How is phenylalanine similar to other amino acids?
Phenylalanine is an amino acid, which are the building blocks of proteins in your body. This molecule exists in two forms or arrangements: L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanine. They’re nearly identical but have a slightly different molecular structure (1