PHENYLALANINE
Pronounced (fen"il-AL'ah-nine), this amino acid, like glutamine, can cross the blood-brain barrier and have an effect on the chemistry in your brain. True to its description as a “building block”, phenylalanine can be synthesized into another amino acid, which in turn, is used to synthesize 2 key neurotransmitters; dopamine and norepinephrine, both of which promote alertness. Phenylalanine also plays a role in elevating mood, decreasing pain, aiding in memory and learning and suppressing the appetite. It has been used to treat arthritis, depression, menstrual cramps, migraines, obesity, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.
SOMETHING TO PONDER: If PKU is diagnosed early enough, an affected newborn can grow up with normal brain development, but only by eating a special diet. This requires severely restricting or eliminating foods high in phenylalanine, such as breast milk, meat, chicken, fish, nuts, cheese, legumes and other dairy products. Starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, pasta, and corn must be monitored. Many diet foods and diet soft drinks that contain the sweetener aspartame must also be avoided, as aspartame consists of two amino acids: phenylalanine and aspartic acid.
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FACTS ABOUT
AMINO ACIDS
Three forms of phenylalanine are commercially available; L, D and DL. L-phenylalanine functions as a building block for proteins, increases mental alertness, suppresses the appetite and can help people with Parkinson’s, PMS and various types of chronic pain. D- phenylalanine specifically addresses pain (especially from arthritis) and DL- phenylalanine addresses the combination of both.
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). This enzyme is necessary to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine to the amino acid tyrosine.
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