Phenylalanine
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Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine is one of the eight essential amino acids necessary for the basic functioning of human cells that leads to normal growth and development. It is found in most foods, especially those high in protein, such as meat, cheese, and milk.
Food labeling laws require products that contain phenylalanine to be labeled with a warning for people who have the inherited disorder phenylketonuria (PKU), because they cannot safely consume phenylalanine. For example, aspartame (Nutrasweet), a common sweetener, is nonprotein source of phenylalanine. It is used in many diet soft drinks and sugar-free foods.
Credits
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 25, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman |
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