What's Tyrosine and Phenylketonuria?

Tyrosine and Phenylketonuria

A recent study suggests that evidence regarding the effectiveness of tyrosine supplementation for phenylketonuria is unclear.

Phenylketonuria is a hereditary condition that occurs when the body does not have the enzyme needed to metabolize the essential amino acid phenylalanine into the amino acid tyrosine. The condition may result in brain damage if left untreated.

Researchers at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in the United Kingdom sought to evaluate the effectiveness of tyrosine supplementation for the treatment of phenylketonuria.

The authors noted that the traditional treatment of the condition is a phenylalanine-restricted diet and is very difficult to maintain. The researchers conducted a review in many databases to assess all available data regarding the effects of tyrosine supplementation by itself or in combination with a restrictive diet.

The researchers included three trials with a total of 56 patients in their review and found that patients who received tyrosine supplementation had significantly higher tyrosine blood concentrations when compared to a placebo group. However, they noted that no other significant differences were found between other various outcome measures.

The authors concluded that clinical data are inconclusive regarding the effectiveness of tyrosine supplementation for patients with phenylketonuria. Additional research is necessary.

For more information about tyrosine or phenylalanine, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

References
1.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com/
2.Webster D, Wildgoose J. Tyrosine supplementation for phenylketonuria. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Aug 4;(8):CD001507.
View Abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20687067?dopt=Abstract

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