Whey Protein Formulas in the Treatment of Phenylketonuria in Infants

Abstract

The use of a whey protein formula as natural protein source in the dietary treatment of two infants with phenylketonuria is described. Two practical advantages were found. Firstly, the whey protein formula had the same caloric and nitrogen content as the special low-phenylalanine formula, which made adjustments of the intake of these two formulas in order to balance the phenylalanine intake easy. Secondly, since the whey protein formulas had a lesser phenylalanine content than whole milk protein, which is usually used as a natural protein source in the treatment of phenylketonurics at this age, a greater part of the infant’s daily feed could be a whey protein formula and a minor part the expensive phenylalanine-poor formula.

Biological Evaluation of a Whey Protein Fraction, with Special Reference to its Use as a Phenylalanine-Low Protein Source in the Dietary Treatment of PKU

“…Most authors use ordinary milk for this purpose. However, H ambraeus et al [1] recently reported the practical advantages of using whey protein-containing formulas as a natural protein source. Since whey proteins contain less phenylalanine than casein, this means feeding a larger amount of natural protein to the patients and using a lesser amount of the artificial phenylalanine-free or low preparation.…”

Use of a Formula Based on a Whey Protein Concentrate in the Feeding of an Infant with Hyperphenylalaninemia

“…In 1970 Hambraeus et al (7) reported the practical advantages of using a humanized cow milk formula as a natural source of protein in the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). In this formula, the amount of whey protein in relation to casein is the same as in human breast milk, i.e.…”

“…60:40. It was shown that this formula constituted about 55 % of the nitrogen intake in an infant with PKU (7). In their studies on the fractionation and biological evaluation of a whey protein concentrate, Forsum and Hambraeus (3) calculated that a whey protein concentrate low in phenylalanine as a source of natural protein covered almost 80 % of the nitrogen intake in an infant with PKU.…”