Question

Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for an infant with phenylketouria?

A) Reducing protein in diet
B) Providing phenylalanine in diet
C) Discouraging breastfeeding
D) Increasing wheat products in diet

Answer 1

The treatment for infants with PKU is to reduce protein in the diet to lower phenylalanine levels, which helps prevent neurological damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate treatment for an infant with phenylketonuria (PKU) is A) Reducing protein in the diet. Infants with PKU lack the enzyme activity needed to convert phenylalanine into tyrosine, which leads to toxic levels of phenylalanine. This can cause severe neurological damage if not managed properly. Therefore, it is crucial to manage PKU by maintaining a strict diet that is very low in phenylalanine, which is found in many proteins. People with PKU must also avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which are high in phenylalanine. The introduction of tyrosine, which becomes an essential amino acid for those with PKU, is also necessary as individuals cannot synthesize it sufficiently.