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An investigation into diet treatment for adults with previously untreated phenylketonuria and severe intellectual disability
Author(s) -
Fitzgerald B.,
Morgan J.,
Keene N.,
Rollinson R.,
Hodgson A.,
DalrympleSmith J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2788.2000.00260.x
Subject(s) - irritability , alertness , intellectual disability , mood , medicine , pediatrics , psychology , prospective cohort study , phenylketonurias , phenylalanine , psychiatry , cognition , biochemistry , chemistry , amino acid
There is evidence in the literature which suggests that adults with previously untreated phenylketonuria (PKU) benefit from a low phenylalanine diet. A prospective study providing a phenylalanine‐restricted diet to five subjects with severe intellectual disability arising from untreated PKU is reported. Physical, social and behavioural measures were used to monitor the effects of the diet. Four out of the five subjects derived considerable benefit. It is concluded that the restricted diet is worth trying in most individuals with previously untreated PKU, and that possible benefits are in the areas of concentration, alertness, mood, irritability and adaptive behaviour.