Phenylalanine |
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Basic Information
Phenylalanine is an amino acid.
Available from natural sources? Yes
Available from synthetic sources? Yes
Prescription required? No
NATURAL SOURCES
Almonds
Avocado
Bananas
Cheese
Cottage cheese
Lima beans
Non-fat dried milk
Peanuts
Pickled herring
Pumpkin seeds
Sesame seeds
REASONS TO USE
Functions as building block of all proteins.
Can induce significant short-term increases of blood levels of
norepinephrine, dopamine and epinephrine. May be harmful at
times and helpful at others. Don't take without medical
supervision!
UNPROVED SPECULATED BENEFITS
Treats mental depression.
Improves memory.
Diminishes pain.
Increases mental alertness.
Promotes sexual interest.
Releases hormones that suppress appetite.
Treats Parkinson's disease.
WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS?
Single amino-acid deficiencies are unknown except in people on
crash diets consisting of only a few foods.
Amino-acid deficiencies appear more commonly as a result of
total protein deficiency, which is rare in the United States and
Canada.
Anyone with inadequate caloric or nutritional dietary intake
or increased nutritional requirements.
Those with inadequate protein dietary intake.
Children, pregnant or breast-feeding women who are vegan
vegetarians.
People with recent severe burns or injuries.
Premature infants.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
In moderate deficiencies:
Slowed growth in children
Low levels of essential proteins in blood
In severe deficiencies:
Apathy
Depigmentation of hair
Edema
Lethargy
Liver damage
Loss of muscle and fat
Skin lesions
Weakness
UNPROVED SPECULATED SYMPTOMS
Lack of sexual interest
Impotence
Poor memory
Obesity
LAB TESTS TO DETECT DEFICIENCY
None available, except for experimental purposes.
DOSAGE AND USAGE INFORMATION
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
No RDA has been established.
What this amino acid does:
It is involved in production of dopamine and epinephrine,
which affect transmission of impulses in the human brain and
other parts of the nervous system.
Miscellaneous information:
Supplements taken by healthy people will not make them
healthier.
Poorly nourished people have a greater chance of adverse side
effects from taking amino-acid supplements, including an amino-
acid imbalance.
The poorer the diet, the greater the chance of an amino-acid
supplement creating a harmful combination.
Available as:
Tablets: Swallow whole with full glass of liquid. Don't chew
or crush. Take with meals or 1 to 1-1/2 hours after meals unless
otherwise directed by your doctor.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Don't take if you:
Are allergic to any food protein, such as eggs, milk, wheat.
Are at risk of poor nutrition for any reason.
Suffer from migraine headaches.
Have phenylketonuria (PKU).
Have pigmented malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin
cancer.
Take any monamine oxidase inhibitor as an anti-depressant,
including pargyline, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, procarbazine,
tranylcypromine.
Consult your doctor if you have:
High blood pressure.
Self-medicated with phenylalamine for any reason without
medical supervision.
Over age 55:
Don't take amino-acid supplements if you are healthy.
Pregnancy:
Don't take amino-acid supplements if you are healthy.
Breast-feeding:
Don't take amino acid supplements if you are healthy.
Effect on lab tests:
None known.
Storage:
Store in cool, dry place away from direct light, but don't
freeze.
Store safely out of reach of children.
Don't store in bathroom medicine cabinet. Heat and moisture
may change action of amino acid.
Others:
Phenylalanine may cause high blood pressure to rise even
higher.
OVERDOSE/TOXICITY
Signs and symptoms:
Unlikely to threaten life or cause significant symptoms.
What to do:
For symptoms of overdosage: Discontinue amino acid, and
consult doctor. Also see ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS
section below.
For accidental overdosage (such as child taking entire
bottle): Dial 911 (emergency), 0 for operator or your nearest
Poison Control Center.
ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS
| Reaction or effect |
What to do |
| Lowers blood pressure |
Discontinue. Call doctor immediately. |
| Raises blood pressure |
Discontinue. Call doctor immediately. |
| Migraine headaches |
Discontinue. Call doctor |
|
immediately. |
INTERACTION WITH MEDICINE, VITAMINS OR MINERALS
| Interacts with |
Combined effect |
| Anti-depressant drugs |
Dangerous or life-threatening |
| (containing monamine oxidase |
blood-pressure elevation. |
| inhibitors) |
| Tyrosine |
Additive effect with |
|
phenylalanine greatly |
|
increases chance of |
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undesirable side effects. |
INTERACTION WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES
None known
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