Fish-Free Diet in Patients with Phenylketonuria Is Not Associated with Early Atherosclerotic Changes and Enhanced Platelet Activation.
OBJECTIVE
Since patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) have to follow a lifelong restriction of natural protein to lower phenylalanine-intake, they never eat fish. This diet may lead to a chronic deficit of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids with the risk of early atherosclerotic changes. The aim of the study was to analyse the fatty acid profile of PKU patients and to correlate the results with surrogate markers of early atherosclerotic changes [enhanced carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and ß-stiffness index] and platelet activation.


METHODS
In 43 PKU patients and in 58 healthy controls we prospectively examined the fatty acid profile, CIMT, ß-stiffness index and platelet activation (flow cytometric determination of markers of platelet activation). CIMT was measured bilaterally by ultrasound. CIMTmean was defined as the mean value of the sum of CIMTleft and CIMTright.


RESULTS
Despite of lower HDL-cholesterol and higher triglyceride concentrations in the PKU group, there was no significant difference in the omega-6 or omega-3 fatty acid profile, CIMT, ß-stiffness index between both groups. Platelet activation was not enhanced in the PKU group.


CONCLUSIONS
Fish-free diet does not induce early atherosclerotic changes or enhanced platelet activation in PKU patients.
Zentrale Notaufnahme und Medizinische Klinik IV, Zentralklinikum Augsburg, Germany.
Patrik
P
Htun
Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Nephrologie und Intensivmedizin, Charite-Universitaetsmedizin Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Germany.
Jens
J
Nee
Interdisziplinaeres Stoffwechsel-Centrum, Charite-Universitaetsmedizin Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Germany.
Ursula
U
Ploeckinger
Institut für Tierernährung und Ernährungsphysiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Germany.
Klaus
K
Eder
Medizinische Klinik III, Abteilung für Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Eberhard-Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Germany.
Tobias
T
Geisler
Medizinische Klinik III, Abteilung für Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Eberhard-Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Germany.
Meinrad
M
Gawaz
Medizinische Klinik III, Abteilung für Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Eberhard-Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Germany.
Wolfgang
W
Bocksch
Medizinische Klinik III, Abteilung für Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Eberhard-Karls Universitaet Tuebingen, Germany.
Suzanne
S
Fateh-Moghadam
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014280:Triglycerides