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PKU is inherited from a person's parents. The disorder is passed down in a recessive pattern, which means that for a child to develop PKU, both parents have to contribute a mutated version of the PAH gene. If both parents have PKU, their child will have PKU as well.

In the United States, about 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 babies is born with PKU each year. The illness happens in all ethnic groups. But it's more common in white, American Indian or Alaska Native people than in Black, Ashkenazi Jewish or Japanese people.

Results. The prevalence of classical PKU diagnosed through a comprehensive national newborn screening program ranged from 0.005% to 0.0167%. The highest prevalence was reported in Turkey at 0.0167%, whereas the lowest prevalence was reported in the UAE, 0.005%.

Phenylalanine also affects melanin, the pigment responsible for hair color and skin color. So kids with PKU often have fair skin, light hair, and blue eyes. A child with PKU may also have: seizures.

Overview. Phenylketonuria (fen-ul-key-toe-NU-ree-uh), also called PKU, is a rare inherited disorder that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body. PKU is caused by a change in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene. This gene helps create the enzyme needed to break down phenylalanine.

Phenylketonuria, often called PKU, is an inherited disorder that can cause intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) if not treated. In PKU, the body can't process a portion of a protein called phenylalanine, which is in all foods containing protein.

There are no gender differences in risk factors or severity of PKU.

In the United States, PKU is most common in people of European or Native American ancestry. It is much less common among people of African, Hispanic, or Asian ancestry.