You’ve come to right place to learn more about inborn errors of metabolism like PKU or MSUD, explore diet management tips, and hear inspiring stories. From big moments, like starting college to little ones like what to eat for dinner, we have tips and ideas to help you along the way.
Please note: information presented in our blogs is for educational purposes only and is in no way intended to replace the care, advice, and medical supervision of your metabolic team. Always consult your metabolic healthcare team with questions you have and before you make any changes to your or your loved one’s diet or condition management.
Calcium is a mineral best known for its role in bone health. In fact, the body stores more than 99% of calcium in bones and teeth to keep them strong.1 Calcium also plays a key role in other important functions of the body. Your body uses calcium to help move your muscles and your blood, …
Written in collaboration with Katie Maguire, PKU Adult and 2nd grade schoolteacher Lunch anxiety? Anxious that your child will not eat her lunch or drink formula at school? Here are some quick ideas that you can do to prepare and hopefully ease some anxiety: Pack the lunchbox and practice eating at home; make sure your child …
Raise Awareness for PKU this May Nutricia North America is proud to support PKU Awareness Month this May by sponsoring a Push-Ups for PKU Challenge! From May 1 to 31, Nutricia will donate $10 for each video you post on Facebook or Instagram of you doing (or trying to do!) at least 5 push-ups. The …
“When I got the call, I couldn’t process what I was hearing. It was so hard.” Lacy thinks back to the moment when she learned that her second child, a baby girl named Aspen, was diagnosed with Phenylketonuria (PKU). PKU is a rare inherited metabolic disorder that means a person must avoid foods naturally high …
A family’s journey in learning about PKU through baby Aspen READ MORE
Just because you have a metabolic condition like phenylketonuria (PKU), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), homocystinuria (HCU), or another inborn error of metabolism disorder doesn’t mean you can’t order restaurant food. Here are helpful tips for navigating common restaurant menus in the U.S. and Canada and finding low protein options that fit your diet. Remember …
Restaurant Food Guides: Common Low Protein Options on Restaurant Menus READ MORE
Monitoring your baby’s blood phenylalanine (PHE) levels is an important part of managing PKU and helping your child thrive. Keeping blood PHE levels within the target range leads to normal growth and brain functions. If blood PHE levels are too high over an extended period, it may affect the brain. If PHE levels are too …
Obtaining health insurance coverage for metabolic formula can be stressful in our current times. You may have experienced challenges in getting your formula covered, such as loss of coverage due to an employment change, dropped coverage due to age, and the list goes on. We understand how complicated it can be. That’s why Nutricia Navigator …
Helping Families Find Formula Coverage: Nutricia Navigator READ MORE
When your child has a metabolic disorder, the idea of daycare can feel stressful and overwhelming. Rest assured that young children with metabolic disorders go to daycare every day and receive excellent care! A child with a special diet is nothing new to daycare centers nowadays. Daycares typically have protocols in place to ensure your …
Friends are so important to have in your life. Deciding to tell people that you have an inborn error of metabolism – such as phenylketonuria (PKU), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), homocystinuria (HCU), or another condition – is a personal decision. We’re here to help if you feel like opening up to your friends about …
Being off the PKU diet leads to high phenylalanine (PHE) levels and is associated with a variety of symptoms, such as feeling tired, irritable and forgetful. This is how Rene felt before he went back on the PKU diet as an adult. We met up with Rene in his home in San Diego, CA to …
Wait, wait! Don’t throw out your formula can yet! You can reuse your Nutricia Metabolics formula cans for arts & crafts and more! First, fully clean out the can. Second, follow our easy and fun tips below. Be sure to clean your cans out thoroughly before reusing them. We recommend wiping out the cans with …
To help provide an educational activity, we are proud to share a printable copy of My PKU Activity Book. This activity book is full of fun and educational coloring pages, word searches and other games to keep your school-aged child and their siblings engaged and learning about Phenylketonuria (PKU). Examples from My PKU Activity Book: …
Learning about PKU through fun activities for kids READ MORE
Dear Nutricia Customers and Community, At Nutricia, we know that our customers, patients, and their families rely on our medical foods every day. The health and safety of our customers and patients have always been our highest priority. As the COVID- 19 situation continues to evolve, our commitment to supply, quality, and services to you …
Dining out can seem tough on a low protein diet, but it’s not impossible. Here are some helpful tips for going out, including what to look out for and how to prepare for a fun time on the town. Plan ahead as much as possibleIf you can, view the menu online ahead of time. Call …
12 marathons, 19 half marathons, 100-mile bike rides, and triathlons: Kristin Rapp’s athletic achievements are impressive. What’s more is that Kristin has Homocystinuria (HCU) and manages the low protein diet while training. How does she do it? What keeps her motivated? We sat down with Kristin to answer this and more. Kristin was diagnosed with …
When you reach your third trimester (after 26 weeks) you are now in the final countdown. With only 3 months to go, you will notice significant changes in your body and PKU diet. For some, your permitted protein intake may increase. Continue to be in close contact with your metabolic clinic. If you are not …
Week 13 through 26 is considered the second trimester of your pregnancy. View PKU & Pregnancy: What to Expect blog here View Low Protein Diet Tips To Help You Get Through The 1st Trimester Of Pregnancy blog here During this time, you will continue to work closely with your clinic as only they can provide …
Maintaining PHE levels during your 2nd trimester of pregnancy READ MORE
Congratulations on your pregnancy! These are exciting times. Don’t forget, working closely with your clinic is important before, during and after pregnancy. Your clinic can provide the best guidance for you and your baby. Once your blood phenylalanine (PHE) levels are well-controlled and you become pregnant you enter the first of three trimesters associated with …
Low protein diet tips to help you get through the 1st trimester of pregnancy READ MORE
We talked about general topics of sports nutrition in our last blog — let’s now discuss what is important BEFORE, DURING and AFTER exercise for people with an inborn error of amino acid metabolism such as Phenylketonuria (PKU), Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) or Homocystinuria (HCU). Before getting started, it is important to know that …
Participating in sports and fitness provides many benefits for health and wellbeing—and this holds true for many people with inherited metabolic disorders. Plenty of members of the metabolic community run races, dance, and play team sports to stay fit. James, a college sophomore with Phenylketonuria (PKU), for example, plays club soccer. (Read our interview with …
The holidays can be an exciting time of year. However, they can be a bit challenging for someone on a restricted diet as most festivities center around food. This blog focuses on tips for managing a restricted diet during the holiday season. The most important thing to do is plan ahead. The more you know …
The journey to motherhood, when you have Phenylketonuria (PKU), should begin with your metabolic clinic. It is essential to work with your clinic before, during and even after pregnancy. Only your clinic can provide the best guidance to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby. They will work with you to ensure well-controlled …
Brady and Quinn drink PhenylAde® GMP Drink Mix and start owning their PKU diets Do you remember the moment you got the call about your child having an inborn error of metabolism? In this video, Allyson Mullen shares her heartfelt story about that moment. Her sons Brady and Quinn received classical Phenylketonuria (PKU) diagnoses, which …
You’ve likely seen ‘GMP’ on a Phenylketonuria (PKU) or Tyrosinemia (TYR) formula label or heard about it through your dietitian. But what exactly is it and why is it getting so popular? GMP can be used as a protein source for PKU and Tyrosinemia formulas. GMP, short for glycomacropeptide, is a peptide – a type of …
Glycomacropeptide, or GMP for short, is derived from a whole protein in milk during the cheese making process. It is naturally low in phenylalanine (PHE) and tyrosine (TYR), and with the addition of certain amino acids, it makes a suitable source of protein for those with phenylketonuria (PKU) or tyrosinemia (TYR). In this blog post, …
Do you have questions about inborn errors of metabolism like PKU, MSUD, or MMA/PA? We’re here to support you with easy-to-understand education tools. As part of our Nutricia Connect support platform, we offer easy-to-understand education materials that provide information on complex disorders like PKU, MSUD, and others. We’re here to support you as you educate …
Education Tools to Help you Understand PKU and other Metabolic Disorders READ MORE
One of the first things you learn about PKU is that it requires a diet consisting of a special PKU formula and foods low in protein. It’s natural to wonder why the formula is needed. Why can’t you just follow a diet low in protein and skip the formula? Let’s start with why protein is …
Always consult your metabolic healthcare professional before introducing new foods or making any changes to your child’s diet. Introducing solids is an exciting time in your baby’s development, but it may come with some anxiety for you. That’s completely normal! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends gradually introducing solid foods when a baby is …
