What effect does phenylalanine have on you? Why is there a warning on foods?

Answer 1

Some people are born without the enzyme to digest phenylalanine.Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid. For the people with PKU, phenylketonuria, eating it can cause brain damage, because of the build up of breakdown products from trying to break it down without the proper enzyme. It is important for them to avoid it, it is needed by everyone to build proteins.

Answer 2

There is a warning on diet soft drinks and things like that because phenylalanine cannot be broken down by some people. This means that the amino acid will build up in the brain and can eventually cause death. The disease is called phenylketonuria or PKU for short. I believe doctors test for this at birth, so if you don't have it there is nothing to worry about. By the way, phenylalanine is NOT the active ingredient in ex-lax or any other laxative. The people who told you this are thinking of another chemical called phenophtailine which is much different from phenylalanine.

Answer 3

It gives me massive migraines. I avoid it at all costs.

Some people cannot metabolize phenylalanine...the condition is called phenylketonuira. Consuming phenylalanine for these people can be deadly.

i dont' have the condition but I still cannot have anything that contains that chemical. It is commonly marketed under the name Nutrisweet. Diet pop, sugarless gum, etc...can't have any of that.

There is no other product that receives more consumer complaints at the FDA. People get all types of horrible symptoms from overconsumption (or sometimes ANY consumption) of it.

Answer 4

Phenylalanine used to be the active ingredient in Ex-Lax. Phenyl has been known to cause cancer in the state of california.

Answer 5

it is an additive in some medicines and foods and can have a laxative effect if taken in exsess.

in other words it gives you the sh i ts.

Answer 6

It has a hmm shall we say laxative effect and can be dangerous if to much is consumed as it causes dehydration as well

Answer 7

It does nothing to me, but it can be harmul to children and some people are allergic to it. It's in things like fizzy drinks so I think that it can make you go hyper.