Children with PKU

Question

Children with PKU

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Children with PKU (phenylketonuria) should be placed on a special diet at a young age to prevent intellectual disability and other health problems. This diet restricts foods high in phenylalanine, an amino acid that they cannot metabolize properly, but does not exclude fruits or vegetables. PKU is not caused by damage to a specific pair of chromosomes, but rather by a genetic mutation. With early intervention and proper treatment, individuals with PKU can lead normal and healthy lives. They do not have a substantially shorter life expectancy.