LeKiwi wrote:
Sora wrote:
tmad40blue wrote:
Phenylketonuria. Beat that.
That's not really an allergy... but, it beats honey for sure!
We had to learn about it in the advanced biology courses. It's autosomal recessive if I remember correctly.
Isn't everyone phenylketonuric to some extent? I know everyone reacts (even if it's not noticeably at first) to some of the main culprits like aspartame (though perhaps not the lesser ones like a true phenylketonuric would?).
I only know of phenylketonuria caused by the inability to convert phenylalanine correctly.
There is real phenylalanine in aspartame, but that's not the only thing in there. I think the other stuff is the actual centre of the controversy.
Everybody who can metabolise phenylalanine correctly is fine, as only ongoing high levels of phenylalanine cause damage to the body.
Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid for everybody, because the body converts it to tyrosine. Those with PKU can have a deficit of tyrosine which would also result in yet other disorders such as albinism. (A lack of melatonin caused by a lack of tyrosine.) Too high levels = very bad, nothing = similar consequences caused in other ways.
I think phenylalanine and direct tyrosine are used in mild antidepressants (speaking of those alternative treatments about minerals, vitamins and stuff) too.
Ok: If, for whatever reason, a person without PKU would have an extremely high level of phenylalanine for a huge period of time, then there'd be damage of course too. But it is quite unlikely that this will happen to children and adults, because the person without PKU can and will metabolise the phenylalanine correctly.
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