Is phenylalanine bad for your health?

Phenylalanine isn't a health concern for most people. However, for people who have the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) or certain other health conditions phenylalanine can be a serious health concern.

What happens when phenylalanine accumulates in the body?

Phenylalanine is an essential nutrient, but some individuals are born with a genetic disorder, phenylketonuria (PKU), that prevents them from metabolizing phenylalanine, and, if untreated, phenylalanine accumulates in the body, becomes converted into phenylpyruvate, and the individual usually develops seizures, brain …

Can phenylalanine raise blood pressure?

Phenylalanine can increase a chemical in the body called tyramine. Large amounts of tyramine can cause high blood pressure.

What is phenylalanine used for in the body?

Your body needs phenylalanine and other amino acids to make proteins, which are found in your brain, blood, muscles, internal organs, and virtually everywhere else in your body. Phenylalanine is also crucial for the production of other molecules, including (2): Tyrosine.

Is phenylalanine bad for your liver?

Phenylalanine is thought to mediate or exacerbate hepatic encephalopathy, and an impaired liver may not be able to cope with the ammoniagenic properties of the amino acid constituents, or adequately metabolize methanol.

Does DLPA raise blood pressure?

Phenylalanine can increase a chemical in the body called tyramine. Large amounts of tyramine can cause high blood pressure. But the body naturally breaks down tyramine to get rid of it.

How is phenylalanine toxic to the brain?

The high plasma phenylalanine concentrations increase phenylalanine entry into brain and restrict the entry of other large neutral amino acids. In the literature, emphasis has been on high brain phenylalanine as the pathological substrate that causes mental retardation.