A preliminary investigation of the role of the phenylalanine:tyrosine ratio in children with early and continuously treated phenylketonuria: toward identification of "safe" levels

Dev Neuropsychol. 2010;35(1):57-65. doi: 10.1080/87565640903325725.

Abstract

Children with early and continuously treated phenylketonuria (ECT-PKU) remain at risk of developing executive function (EF) deficits. There is some evidence that a high phenylalanine to tyrosine ratio (phe:tyr) is more strongly associated with impaired EF development than high phenylalanine alone. This study examined EF in a sample of 11 adolescents against concurrent and historical levels of phenylalanine, phe:tyr, and tyrosine. Lifetime measures of phe:tyr were more strongly associated with EF than phenylalanine-only measures. Children with a lifetime phe:tyr less than 6 demonstrated normal EF, whereas children who had a lifetime phe:tyr above 6, on average, demonstrated clinically impaired EF.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Child
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Executive Function / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Phenylalanine / blood*
  • Phenylketonurias / blood*
  • Phenylketonurias / complications
  • Phenylketonurias / diet therapy
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tyrosine / blood*

Substances

  • Tyrosine
  • Phenylalanine