Amino acids are used by the cells to make substances such as DNA, RNA, collagen, enzymes and the various structural parts of the cells. DL-phenylalanine is one form of phenylalanine, one of the amino acids. If this amino acid accumulates, it can cause neurological problems, and taking it with certain medications can lead to neurological problems, as well.
DL-Phenylalanine Identification
Out of the 20 amino acids, 11 can be made in the body. The amino acids that cannot be made in the body are called the essential amino acids, and people must get them from food. Phenylalanine is one of the essential amino acids. L-phenylalanine is a natural form of phenylalanine, but D-phenylalanine is a form made in the lab, while DL-phenylalanine is a combination of both forms.
Function of Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine is changed to the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine is then used to make the pigment melanin, the thyroid hormone and substances called neurotransmitters, which the nerves use to transmit signals. If the body cannot change phenylalanine to tyrosine, the phenylalanine accumulates, and tyrosine now becomes an essential amino acid because the body cannot make it. This is the case in the hereditary disease known as phenylketonuria.
Phenylketonuria
People with phenylketonuria do not have enough of an enzyme called phenylalanine hydroxylase or enough of a substance called tetrahydrobiopterin, which are needed to change phenylalanine to tyrosine. Enzymes are proteins that work to speed up the time of reactions. The accumulation of phenylalanine in phenylketonuria primarily affects the brain. Children will show signs of this disorder as the amino acid accumulates, and if they are not treated, they will become severely mentally retarded.
Neurological Effects
The University of Maryland Medical Center writes that people who take antipsychotic medications should not take DL-phenylalanine, because it can lead to a disorder called tardive dyskinesia or make the symptoms of this disorder worse. Tardive dyskinesia can develop from taking antipsychotic medications for several months or years. People with the disorder make movements with their tongue, mouth, face, arms, legs or trunk that they cannot control. DL-phenylalanine can also cause children to become very hyperactive, jittery and anxious.
References
- "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Gary Hammer, M.D., Ph.D.; 2010
- "Principles of Medical Biochemistry"; Gerhard Meisenberg, Ph.D., William Simmons, Ph.D.; 1998
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Amino Acid and Organic Acid Metabolism Disorders
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