Special Low Protein Foods in the UK: An Examination of Their Macronutrient Composition in Comparison to Regular Foods
Special low protein foods (SLPFs) are essential in a low phenylalanine diet for treating phenylketonuria (PKU). With little known about their nutritional composition, all SLPFs on UK prescription were studied (<i>n</i> = 146) and compared to equivalent protein-containing foods (<i>...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1893 |
| _version_ | 1797564168904114176 |
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| author | Georgina Wood Sharon Evans Kiri Pointon-Bell Júlio César Rocha Anita MacDonald |
| author_facet | Georgina Wood Sharon Evans Kiri Pointon-Bell Júlio César Rocha Anita MacDonald |
| author_sort | Georgina Wood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Special low protein foods (SLPFs) are essential in a low phenylalanine diet for treating phenylketonuria (PKU). With little known about their nutritional composition, all SLPFs on UK prescription were studied (<i>n</i> = 146) and compared to equivalent protein-containing foods (<i>n</i> = 190). SLPF nutritional analysis was obtained from suppliers/manufacturers. Comparable information about regular protein-containing foods was obtained from online UK supermarkets. Similar foods were grouped together, with mean nutritional values calculated for each subgroup (<i>n</i> = 40) and percentage differences determined between SLPFs and regular food subgroups. All SLPF subgroups contained 43–100% less protein than regular foods. Sixty-three percent (<i>n</i> = 25/40) of SLPF subgroups contained less total fat with palm oil (25%, <i>n</i> = 36/146) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (23%, <i>n</i> = 33/146) key fat sources. Sixty-eight percent (<i>n</i> = 27/40) of SLPF subgroups contained more carbohydrate, with 72% (<i>n</i> = 105/146) containing added sugar. Key SLPF starch sources were maize/corn (72%; <i>n</i> = 105/146). Seventy-seven percent (<i>n</i> = 113/146) of SLPFs versus 18% (<i>n</i> = 34/190) of regular foods contained added fibre, predominantly hydrocolloids. Nine percent of SLPFs contained phenylalanine > 25 mg/100 g and sources of phenylalanine/protein in their ingredient lists. Stricter nutritional composition regulations for SLPFs are required, identifying maximum upper limits for macronutrients and phenylalanine, and fat and carbohydrate sources that are associated with healthy outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:53:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa6e060616aa4a0f8d13810ba494ba88 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:53:33Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa6e060616aa4a0f8d13810ba494ba882023-11-20T04:59:28ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-06-01126189310.3390/nu12061893Special Low Protein Foods in the UK: An Examination of Their Macronutrient Composition in Comparison to Regular FoodsGeorgina Wood0Sharon Evans1Kiri Pointon-Bell2Júlio César Rocha3Anita MacDonald4Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, City South Campus, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TN, UKBirmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UKFaculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, City South Campus, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TN, UKNutrition & Metabolism, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, PortugalBirmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UKSpecial low protein foods (SLPFs) are essential in a low phenylalanine diet for treating phenylketonuria (PKU). With little known about their nutritional composition, all SLPFs on UK prescription were studied (<i>n</i> = 146) and compared to equivalent protein-containing foods (<i>n</i> = 190). SLPF nutritional analysis was obtained from suppliers/manufacturers. Comparable information about regular protein-containing foods was obtained from online UK supermarkets. Similar foods were grouped together, with mean nutritional values calculated for each subgroup (<i>n</i> = 40) and percentage differences determined between SLPFs and regular food subgroups. All SLPF subgroups contained 43–100% less protein than regular foods. Sixty-three percent (<i>n</i> = 25/40) of SLPF subgroups contained less total fat with palm oil (25%, <i>n</i> = 36/146) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (23%, <i>n</i> = 33/146) key fat sources. Sixty-eight percent (<i>n</i> = 27/40) of SLPF subgroups contained more carbohydrate, with 72% (<i>n</i> = 105/146) containing added sugar. Key SLPF starch sources were maize/corn (72%; <i>n</i> = 105/146). Seventy-seven percent (<i>n</i> = 113/146) of SLPFs versus 18% (<i>n</i> = 34/190) of regular foods contained added fibre, predominantly hydrocolloids. Nine percent of SLPFs contained phenylalanine > 25 mg/100 g and sources of phenylalanine/protein in their ingredient lists. Stricter nutritional composition regulations for SLPFs are required, identifying maximum upper limits for macronutrients and phenylalanine, and fat and carbohydrate sources that are associated with healthy outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1893phenylketonuriaspecial low protein foodsnutritional compositionUKmacronutrients |
| spellingShingle | Georgina Wood Sharon Evans Kiri Pointon-Bell Júlio César Rocha Anita MacDonald Special Low Protein Foods in the UK: An Examination of Their Macronutrient Composition in Comparison to Regular Foods Nutrients phenylketonuria special low protein foods nutritional composition UK macronutrients |
| title | Special Low Protein Foods in the UK: An Examination of Their Macronutrient Composition in Comparison to Regular Foods |
| title_full | Special Low Protein Foods in the UK: An Examination of Their Macronutrient Composition in Comparison to Regular Foods |
| title_fullStr | Special Low Protein Foods in the UK: An Examination of Their Macronutrient Composition in Comparison to Regular Foods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Special Low Protein Foods in the UK: An Examination of Their Macronutrient Composition in Comparison to Regular Foods |
| title_short | Special Low Protein Foods in the UK: An Examination of Their Macronutrient Composition in Comparison to Regular Foods |
| title_sort | special low protein foods in the uk an examination of their macronutrient composition in comparison to regular foods |
| topic | phenylketonuria special low protein foods nutritional composition UK macronutrients |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1893 |
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