Information for clinicians
11 Phytanic acid calculator
11a Table of phytanic acid levels in some specific foods
The following table gives amounts of phytanic acid contained in a number of foods. The figures were calculated using analyses carried out for the Refsum's Disease, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment (RDDPT) study.
Table 11.1: Phytanic acid levels in some specific foods
| Food | mg phytanic acid / gm of food |
|---|---|
| turkey | 0.0074 |
| chicken | 0.0257 |
| pork | 0.0380 |
| rabbit | 0.0220 |
| sole | 0.0260 |
| egg (1 egg ~70 gm) | 0.0025 |
| WW skim milk (.08% fat) | 0.0047 |
| yoplait skim yoghurt | 0.0056 |
| tahini | 0.1020 |
| soya oil | 0.1400 |
| other oils | 0.1700 |
| white bread | 0.0160 |
| rice | 0.0100 |
| potato | 0.0070 |
| pumpkin | 0.0025 |
| carrots, cooked | 0.0025 |
| w beans | 0.0027 |
| chick peas | 0.0027 |
| fruit & veg - fresh | 0.0010 |
| fruit & veg - cooked or tinned | 0.0050 |
| skimmed dried milk | 0.0010 |
11b Phytanic acid calculator spreadsheet
The information given in the table shown above (Section 11a) is also available for download as an Excel spreadsheet. This can be used to calculate in detail the amounts of phytanic acid contained in a food intake made up of portions of the different foods listed.
Download the Excel spreadsheet (16KB)
Free spreadsheet software
The spreadsheet is made using Excel, the standard Microsoft Office spreadsheet package. For people who do not have a copy of Microsoft Excel, the spreadsheet can be opened and used with OpenOffice.org, a multiplatform and multilingual, open-source office suite. It is compatible with all other major office suites, and is free to download, use, and distribute.
Download OpenOffice.org from the OpenOffice.org website
11c More information on diet
Qualitative information on which foods adult Refsum's disease patients should eat is provided in the 'Information for patients' section of this website.
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Page last updated 26 June 2006