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Nutritional Changes and Micronutrient Supply in Patients with Phenylketonuria Under Therapy with Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)

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Book cover JIMD Reports – Case and Research Reports, 2012/6

Part of the book series: JIMD Reports ((JIMD,volume 9))

Abstract

Background: Since 2008 patients with BH4-sensitive phenylketonuria can be treated with sapropterin dihydrochloride (Kuvan®) in addition to the classic phenylalanine (Phe) restricted diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional changes and micronutrient supply in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) under therapy with tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4).

Subjects and Methods: 19 children with PKU (4–18 years) and potential BH4-sensitivity were included, 14 completed the study protocol. Dried blood Phe concentrations as well as detailed dietary records were obtained throughout the study at preassigned study days.

Results: Eight patients could increase their Phe tolerance from 629 ± 476 mg to 2131 ± 1084 mg (P = 0.006) under BH4 while maintaining good metabolic control (Phe concentration in dried blood 283 ± 145 μM vs. 304 ± 136 μM, P = 1.0), therefore proving to be BH4-sensitive. They decreased their consumption of special low protein products and fruit while increasing their consumption of high protein foods such as processed meat, milk and dairy products. Intake of vitamin D (P = 0.016), iron (P = 0.002), calcium (P = 0.017), iodine (P = 0.005) and zinc (P = 0.046) significantly declined during BH4 treatment while no differences in energy and macronutrient supply occurred.

Conclusion: BH4-sensitive patients showed good metabolic control under markedly increased Phe consumption. However, the insufficient supply of some micronutrients needs consideration. Long-term multicenter settings with higher sample sizes are necessary to investigate the changes of nutrient intake under BH4 therapy to further evaluate potential risks of malnutrition. Supplementation may become necessary.

Competing interests: None declared

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the patients and their families for their interest and participation. The help by the nurses at the hospital’s outpatient clinic is as much appreciated as that by the technicians in the department’s laboratory.

This work was partly supported by an investigator-initiated, unrestricted research grant from Merck-Serono GmbH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Women and Child Health, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Centre of Paediatric Research (CPR), University Hospitals, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20 a, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany

    J. F. Weigel, B. Ziesch, C. Rohde, U. Mütze, W. Kiess & S. Beblo

  2. Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    U. Ceglarek & J. Thiery

  3. Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany

    A. G. Thiele & A. S. Müller

Authors
  1. A. G. Thiele
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  2. J. F. Weigel
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  3. B. Ziesch
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  4. C. Rohde
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  5. U. Mütze
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  6. U. Ceglarek
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  7. J. Thiery
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  8. A. S. Müller
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  9. W. Kiess
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  10. S. Beblo
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Correspondence to S. Beblo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sektionen für Humangenetik und Klinische, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Johannes Zschocke (Editors-in-Chief) (Editors-in-Chief)

  2. Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA

    K. Michael Gibson (Editors-in-Chief) (Editors-in-Chief)

  3. Department of Biochemistry Genetics Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Garry Brown (Editors) (Editors)

  4. Medical Center Department of Pediatrics IGMD, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands

    Eva Morava (Editors) (Editors)

  5. Center for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany

    Verena Peters (Managing Editor) (Managing Editor)

Additional information

Communicated by: Anita MacDonald

Take Home Message

Take Home Message

Although BH4 therapy is an effective and helpful additional treatment in some patients with PKU, changes in eating habits and consequently insufficient supply of micronutrients has to be judged critically.

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Thiele, A.G. et al. (2012). Nutritional Changes and Micronutrient Supply in Patients with Phenylketonuria Under Therapy with Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). In: Zschocke, J., Gibson, K.M., Brown, G., Morava, E., Peters, V. (eds) JIMD Reports – Case and Research Reports, 2012/6. JIMD Reports, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/8904_2012_176

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/8904_2012_176

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-35517-2

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