Influence of phenylketonuria's diet on dimethylated arginines and methylation cycle

Phenylketonuria's (PKU) treatment based on low natural protein diet may affect homocysteine (Hcys) metabolic pathway. Hcys alteration may be related to the methylation of arginine to asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), which both modify nitric oxide production. The aim of this work is to evaluate the status of Hcys formation methylation cycle and ADMA and SDMA levels in patients with PKU in order to establish a potential relationship. Forty-two early diagnosed PKU patients under dietary treatment and good adherence to their diets were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Their nutritional and biochemical profile, as well as Hcys synthesis status, ADMA and SDMA levels were analyzed and compared with a control group of 40 healthy volunteers. ADMA and SDMA were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. In this study, 23 classic PKU, 16 moderate PKU, and 3 mild HPA were enrolled. The median age was 10 years old. Median ADMA, SDMA, and Hcys concentration levels (5.1 μM [2.3–25.7], 0.35 μM [0.18–0.57], 0.43 μM [0.26–0.61], respectively) were lower in patients with PKU (P < .001 for ADMA and SDMA) whereas vitamin B(12) and folate levels (616 pg/mL [218–1943] and 21 ng/mL [5–51], respectively) were higher comparing with controls. Statistically significant correlations were found between ADMA, and Phe (r = −0.504, P = .001) and Hcys (r = −0.458, P = .037) levels. Several nutrition biomarkers, such as prealbumin, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, selenium, and zinc, were below the normal range. Our study suggests that patients with PKU suffer from poor methylation capacity. Restriction of natural proteins in addition to high intake of vitamin B(12) and folic acid supplementation in the dietary products, produce an impairment of methylation cycle that leads to low Hcys and ADMA levels. As a result, methylated compounds compete for methyl groups, and there is an impairment of methylation cycle due to low Hcys levels, which is related to the lack of protein quality, despite of elevated concentrations of cofactors.