TABLE 3.

Acceptability of AA-MFs and GMP-MFs¹

Question	AA-MFs	GMP-MFs	P
How much do you like your AA-MF formula/GMP-MF products?	3.97 ± 0.24 (69)	4.90 ± 0.18 (93)	0.001
How easy is it to prepare your AA-MF formula/GMP-MF products?	4.79 ± 0.22 (83)	5.07 ± 0.16 (97)	0.366
How willing are you to take AA-MF formula/GMP-MF products 3 times a day?	4.50 ± 0.25 (79)	4.86 ± 0.19 (86)	0.172
How easy is it to stay on your phenylketonuria diet when you are using AA-MF formula/GMP-MF products?	4.19 ± 0.18 (79)	4.69 ± 0.16 (90)	0.019
How comfortable are you eating AA-MF formula/GMP-MF products in social situations?	3.83 ± 0.26 (59)	4.72 ± 0.27 (79)	0.003
Overall, how convenient is it to take & consume AA-MF formula/GMP-MF products away from home?	3.34 ± 0.31 (45)	4.47 ± 0.23 (83)	0.001

¹Values are means ± SEs (% subjects selecting a positive score of 4, 5, or 6 for each question). Subjects responded to each question on day 21 of both the AA-MF and GMP-MF treatments by selecting a response on a 6-point scale where 1 = dislike extremely, 2 = dislike, 3 = somewhat dislike, 4 = somewhat like, 5 = like, and 6 = like extremely. Comparisons were conducted by using a paired t test (n = 29) on the scores for the 6 questions in response to each diet. A signed rank test was used where data were not normally distributed. Similar statistical significance was obtained when subjects completed the questionnaire on day 7 of each dietary treatment. [Following are subjects’ comments written on the questionnaire in response to “please write additional comments below” and/or comments mentioned to the registered dietitian study coordinator during study visits. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of subjects making this comment. AA-MF diet: gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, nausea, and abdominal pain (n = 10); higher awareness of lingering hunger after transition from GMP-MFs to AA-MFs diet (n = 3); and hunger, headaches, fatigue, ate less food due to gastrointestinal distress (n = 1–2 for each). GMP-MF diet: liked convenience, flexibility, and variety of products (n = 11); felt full and made better food choices with less snacking (n = 11); preferred taste (n = 6); perceived improved performance with exercise, work, or school (n = 6); had improved gastrointestinal symptoms with less nausea, heartburn, and abdominal pain and regular bowel movements (n = 6); had concern about high caloric content of some GMP-MF products (n = 5); reported gastrointestinal symptoms and low aesthetic appeal related to the precipitate in Restore (n = 5); still craved AA-MF formula (n = 5); and perceived greater emotional stability (n = 3).] AA-MF, amino acid medical food; GMP-MF, glycomacropeptide medical food.