phenylketonuria
- n a genetic disorder of metabolism; lack of the enzyme needed to turn phenylalanine into tyrosine results in an accumulation of phenylalanine in the body fluids which causes various degrees of mental deficiency
- Products with aspartame (NutraSweet) have always been labeled dangerous for people with phenylketonuria, a relatively rare condition.
- As recently as 2000, most hospitals tested for only a handful of the recommended 29 diseases, including phenylketonuria, a metabolic disorder that can result in mental retardation .
- Folks with an uncommon genetic disorder called phenylketonuria shouldn't consume the sweetener because they cannot metabolize one of its ingredients.