Phenylalanine

//Medical Nutrition// • -Essential amino acid / -Precursor to tyrosine • -PKU missing phenylalanine hydroxylase –can’t make thyroid or process Phe (1/5000 births)-> Retardation unless restricted to less than 60mg/kg/d. • -PEA-phenylethylalamine- an amphetamine-like substance that is a neurotransmitter. Chocolate contains it, and it is an intermediate in making NE and Epi. It has been high in migraine patients I’ve seen. Raising serotonin seems to lower it. It is low in ADD/ADHD children and if given helps their cognition.

Functions • FX- Brain chemistry, neurotransmission excitatory pathways- up-regulates Glutamate.

• RDA 1gm/d • Avg. intake 4-5 gm/d • Therapeutic: 1-8 gm/d • Deficiency: depression and reduced growth • Sources: Cheese, fish, meat

Treatment 1. Depression 1-6gm/d- can be very effective anxious depression “yang”;(tyrosine – yin depression) • 2. Chronic pain ? reduces ez that breaks down enkephalins and endorphins • 3. Parkinson’s –reduces sxs of rigidity, and depression, not tremors –750mg/tid • 4. Vitiligo 50mg/kg/d 10% gel topically with 30 min sun exposure helped repigmentation 57% - Gaby • CI: If it causes jitters, (?ADHD kids), aspartamine (Nutrasweet) contains • Migraines – tyramine foods may increase effects of DLPA this can cause inc. BP • With MAO inhibitors – can cause hypertensive crisis -> cerebral hemorrhage.(see tyramine foods p92)