A patient with phenylketonuria may need to eat a carefully controlled diet. This may be difficult for some people to adhere to.
Risk factors for noncompliance with a restricted diet:
(1) failure to understand the need for a special diet
(2) normal in behavior and appearance
(3) cost of a special diet (medical food)
(4) need to eat a special diet different from peers
(5) restrictions on activities dictated by the need to adhere to a special diet
(6) poor supervision or social support
(7) difficult access to special diet
(8) anger
(9) poor palatability of diet
It is important to individualize the diet to the patient's specific needs. Some patients require a restricted diet but some patients may tolerate a more liberal diet. especially those who respond to sapropterin.
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