ASTRID’s STORY
Astrid Højgaard, 17, lives in Veksø, Denmark, and has taken Prekulab’s Avonil amino acids powder since she was very young, as recommended by her dietician. In fourth grade, she was also diagnosed with a metabolic disorder, and has to manage two conditions – not that she lets it hold her back.
Watch Astrid's story
ASTRID’s STORY
Astrid Højgaard, 17, lives in Veksø, Denmark, and has taken Prekulab’s Avonil amino acids powder since she was very young, as recommended by her dietician. In fourth grade, she was also diagnosed with a metabolic disorder, and has to manage two conditions – not that she lets it hold her back.
Watch Astrid's story
A winning mentality
“I have always been very active and played all kinds of sports. I tried gymnastics and then handball, and when I saw rowing on the Olympics Games on the television in 2016, I wanted to try it too,” she said.
After two years, Astrid was rowing hard and winning medals, and was offered a position on Team Denmark, an elite sports organisation that allows her to combine education and sport. She trains almost every day, and racks up at least 20 hours training a week.
Astrid manages her PKU with Avonil amino acids, but when she trains extra hard or goes on a training camp, she switches to use Avonil and PreKUnil in a combination so she can plan better and eat a bit differently, perhaps eating pasta while she is away. In daily life, she is on a regulated diet, and eats a largely vegetarian diet, but she can eat a lot of normal food as long as it is allowed within the diet. Her family eat together and she doesn’t need a special meal – Astrid just leaves out the meat or pasta.
Taking control of the future
Her mother Bodil has seen Astrid grow and flourish, and is so happy for her sporting success. Seeing her daughter take more and more responsibility for her condition has made her feel relaxed about the future. “I am not afraid about Astrid growing up and moving away from home,” she said. “I am confident that she can live a normal life and take care of herself.”
The family attends almost all PKU conferences in Denmark and internationally where possible. Well-connected within the PKU community, they attended a newborns with PKU group when Astrid was born, and Astrid connects with other PKU teens almost every day.
“The one frustration I have is that a lot of the time, people don’t understand PKU. People do look at me when I’m taking my tablets,” she said. “But in general, I feel like a normal teenager.”
Bodil agrees.
“The tablets give her more opportunities to be normal, and do normal things,” she said. “People see Astrid first, and then PKU, and not the other way around. But then again, nothing has ever held Astrid back.”
Social life
“I find it easy to go out to coffee shops with my friends – I just ask for oat milk instead of normal milk, which is widely available,” Astrid said. “I find it easy to eat in cafés as more people have become vegan and vegetarian. There are often low protein, vegan options on the menu.”
Why Prekulab?
Prekulab's mission is to improve the quality of PKU patients' life. Established in 1970, the firm is a specialist in the field of PKU research and products, and uses its substantial knowledge about the area to develop new solutions to help families and those affected by PKU to lead as normal a life as possible. It is a pioneer in the use of LNAA, allowing PKU patients to follow a more liberal diet plan. These advances allow patients to take control of their PKU and live a more ordinary life despite their condition. More information on Prekulab and its clinical research is available on the professionals page.

NeoPhe Tablets and Powder










Our newest and most advanced LNAA product gives double protection from Phe, stopping it from entering the brain and also inhibiting entry to the blood. Clinically proven NeoPhe is available in odour and flavourless tablets and citrus-flavoured powder, and allows PKU patients to get up to 80% of their protein intake from a normal diet.
NeoPhe tablets NeoPhe powder
NeoPhe Tablets and Powder












Our newest and most advanced LNAA product gives double protection from Phe, stopping it from entering the brain and also inhibiting entry to the blood. Clinically proven NeoPhe is available in odour and flavourless tablets and citrus-flavoured powder, and allows PKU patients to get up to 80% of their protein intake from a normal diet.
NeoPhe tablets NeoPhe powderPreKUnil Tablets












This advanced product pioneered the use of LNAAs in the treatment of phenylketonuria. It has been successful for PKU patients for more than 30 years. It is clinically proven to reduce Phe transport across the blood-brain barrier. PreKUnil allows PKU patients to get up to 80% of their protein intake from a normal diet. It is also suitable for late-diagnosed and untreated PKU.
PreKUnil tablets

PreKUnil Tablets












This advanced product pioneered the use of LNAAs in the treatment of phenylketonuria. It has been successful for PKU patients for more than 30 years. It is clinically proven to reduce Phe transport across the blood-brain barrier. PreKUnil allows PKU patients to get up to 80% of their protein intake from a normal diet. It is also suitable for late-diagnosed and untreated PKU.
PreKUnil tablets
Avonil Tablets and Powder









A conventional method for the management of PKU, Avonil contains all essential amino acids except Phe, plus multiple vitamins and minerals. Tablets are formulated for easy swallowing, while the powder is mixed with water or juice to drink. Tablets and powder are suitable for all ages, including children and during pregnancy, and must be combined with a restricted diet.
Avonil tablets Avonil powder
Avonil Tablets and Powder









A conventional method for the management of PKU, Avonil contains all essential amino acids except Phe, plus multiple vitamins and minerals. Tablets are formulated for easy swallowing, while the powder is mixed with water or juice to drink. Tablets and powder are suitable for all ages, including children and during pregnancy, and must be combined with a restricted diet.
Avonil tablets Avonil powder