Low-protein food products are recommended to persons with particular types of metabolic disorders such as Homocystinuria (HCU), Phenylketonuria (PKU), Methylmalonic Acidemia(MMA) and Tyrosinemia. Each of these disorders require food products which are low in particular type of amino-acid. i.e. methonine in the case of HCU, phenylalanine in the case of PKU. However it is not easy to find high protein foods with low content of these amino acids. Hence, the patients are given low-protein foods .
Since protein is essential for the body, all other amino acids except methionine is taken additionally. This is very important and it is not a supplement such as a vitamin. It is necessary for the survival and it is also called as ‘formula’.
List of formula and low-protein vendors are given in another page.
A lot of mouth-watering recipes can be found in www.lowprotein.com, www.tasteconnections.com, www.cambrookefoods.com,
Methonine content in common foods is available in the book , Bowes and Church’s Food Values of Portions Commonly Used‘ by Jean A. T. Pennington.
Other websites with amino acid information are:
https://nutritiondata.self.com/
Similar data is also available in the U.S.D.A website. You will freely be able to download the data.
These are some of the foods (Vegetables, Fruits, Snacks and Desserts) that are low and high in protein/methionine
Vegetables
| Vegetables that are High in methionine/ per 100 gm (more than 25mg – 50mg of methionine/ 100 gm of the product) | Broccoli, Mushroom, Cauliflower, Avocado, Bean sprouts, potatoes, |
| Vegetables that are High in methionine/ per 100 gm (more than 50mg of methionine/ 100 gm of the product) | Spinach, Green Peas, corn (boiled), |
| Vegetables that are low in methionine / per 100 gm (less than 25 mg / 100 gm of the product) | Carrot ,Beetroot (boiled)., Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Italian Squash, Yellow Squash, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, Yellow Pepper, Eggplant, Green Cabbage & Red Cabbage, Kale (boiled), lettuce, cucumber, Green Beans (boiled), Red& Brown Onions, Celery, okra |
Fruits
| Fruits that are medium high in methionine 25-50 mg of methionine/ 100 gm of the product) | Navel orange, Mandarin Oranges, |
| Fruits that are Low in methionine (less than 25mg of methionine/ 100 gm of the product) | Watermelon, cantaloupe, Honeydew melon, apples, pears, Cranberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, mango, plums, Dates (dried), peaches, nectarines, Banana, pineapple, apricots |
Snacks and Desserts
| Snacks that are moderate in methionine (25- 50mg of methionine/ 28 gm of the product) | Potato chips( 28 gm), French Fries(10 pieces), Hash browns, pretzels |
| Snacks that are high in methonine (more than 50mg of methionine/ 28 gm of the product) | All nuts, like peanuts, pistachio, Macadamia NutsPopcorn |
| Deserts that are low in methionine (less than 25mg of methionine/ 100 gm of the product) | Mocha mix Ice cream, plain fruit sorbet( with no added egg white), Cool Whip in limited quantity |
| Other foods that are High in methionine (more than 100mg of methionine/ 100 gm of the product) | Tofu, dried beans like kidney beans, black beans, Tempeh |
