Phenylalanine is an amino acid that diabetics are likely to encounter in various forms. Your body needs phenylalanine to make proteins and hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. Phenylalanine also helps diabetics to manage their condition. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that contains phenylalanine, the American Cancer Society notes. Diabetics use artificial sweeteners as a means of controlling their blood sugar levels. Phenylalanine is also used to make diabetes medications such as nateglinide, the American Diabetes Association notes.
Aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is composed of aspartic acid and phenylalanine, the American Cancer Society explains. Aspartame is almost 200 times sweeter than sugar, so much less is needed to attain the equivalent sweetness. This means that food and beverages that use aspartame instead of sugar typically contain less calories and have no sugar. Because diabetics typically have to manage their sugar and caloric intake, aspartame is a viable sugar substitute.
Nateglinide
Nateglinide is a type of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, MayoClinic.com explains. Nateglinide is used alone or in tandem with other diabetes medications such as metformin and thiazolidinedione to lower blood sugar. Nateglinide also requires diet and exercise in order to be effective. Hypoglycemia is a possible side effect of nateglinide. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include anxiety, blurred vision, confusion, nausea and possible loss of consciousness. Always consult your doctor before taking nateglinide to lower your risk of adverse reactions.
Chromium
Insulin resistance is an inability to properly utilize insulin to metabolize blood sugar, and is one of the defining symptoms of type 2 diabetes. According to a 2011 article in the "Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry," chromium, a form of phenylalanine, displayed the ability to alleviate insulin resistance in mice fed a high-fat diet. This suggests the possible use of chromium supplements in alleviating insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics. However, more research is needed to validate this possible use of phenylalanine.
Possible Interactions and Side Effects
Phenylalanine reduces the effects of certain medications such as levodopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Phenylalanine decreases the absorption of the muscle spasm medication, baclofen. Phenylalanine elevates your blood pressure when combinded with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs. The MAO inhibitor selegiline potentiates the antidepressant effects of phenylalanine. Anxiety, nausea and nervousness are typical side effects of phenylalanine. Exceeding 5,000 mg of phenylalanine daily will cause nerve damage.
References
- American Cancer Society; Aspartame; February 2011
- American Diabetes Association: Common Terms
- "Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry"; Chromium (D-phenylalanine) 3 Alleviates High Fat-Induced Insulin Resistance and Lipid Abnormalities; Kandadi MR, et. al; 2011 January
- Mayo Clinic; Nateglinide (Oral Route); November 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Phenylalanine; Steven D. Ehrlich; June 2009
