The most effective treatment for PKU is a special diet of foods that help control the amount of Phe consumed (some Phe is needed for normal growth and development). People with PKU who are on this diet from birth or shortly thereafter develop normally and often have no symptoms of PKU.
The PKU diet includes fruits, vegetables, and some low-protein breads, pastas, and cereals. There is also a special formula, made without Phe, that people with PKU drink to help them get the vitamins and minerals they can’t get from their food.
Generally, people with PKU can’t eat high-protein foods, such as meat, milk, eggs, and nuts. An NIH Consensus Panel recently recommended that people with PKU stay on the diet for life to promote overall health and to prevent decline in mental function.
