Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
5 years ago

Large neutral amino acid supplementation as an alternative to the phenylalanine-restricted diet in adults with phenylketonuria: evidence from adult Pah-enu2 mice

Phenylketonuria treatment mainly consists of a phenylalanine-restricted diet, but still results in suboptimal neuropsychological outcome, which is at least partly based on cerebral monoamine deficiencies, while after childhood treatment compliance decreases. Supplementation of large neutral amino acids (LNAA) was previously demonstrated in young phenylketonuria mice to target all three biochemical disturbances underlying brain dysfunction in phenylketonuria. However, both its potential in adult phenylketonuria and the comparison with the phenylalanine-restricted diet remain to be established. To this purpose, several LNAA supplements were compared with a severe phenylalanine-restricted diet with respect to brain monoamine and amino acid concentrations in adult C57Bl/6 Pah-enu2 mice. Adult phenylketonuria mice received a phenylalanine-restricted diet, unrestricted diet supplemented with several combinations of LNAAs, or AIN-93 M control diet for six weeks. In addition, adult wild-type mice on AIN-93 M diet served as controls. The severe phenylalanine-restricted diet in adult phenylketonuria mice significantly reduced plasma and brain phenylalanine, and restored brain monoamine concentrations, while brain concentrations of most non-phenylalanine LNAAs remained subnormal. Supplementation of eight LNAAs was similarly effective as the severe phenylalanine-restricted diet to restore brain monoamines, while brain and plasma phenylalanine concentrations remained markedly elevated. These results provide biochemical support for the effectiveness of the severe phenylalanine-restricted diet and showed the possibilities of LNAA supplementation being equally effective to restore brain monoamines in adult phenylketonuria mice. Therefore, LNAA supplementation is a promising alternative treatment to phenylalanine restriction in adult phenylketonuria patients to further optimize neuropsychological functioning.

Publisher URL: www.sciencedirect.com/science

DOI: S0955286317306228

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