|
Fructose Malabsorption/Intolerance F.A.Q.'s
What is Fructose?
Fructose is a single sugar. It has the same chemical formula as glucose, but it has a different molecular structure. Fructose is found in fruit, some vegetables, honey, and some plants.
What is Sucrose?
Sucrose contains both glucose and fructose. Sucrose is also known as white sugar, and sucrose is found naturally in sugar cane and sugar beets. Sucrose is a simple sugar such as glucose or fructose that cannot be broken down into simpler sugars. These are known as disaccharides.
Understanding Fructose Malabsorption
Fructose malabsorption can be defined as the body's inability to digest fructose. Symptoms include bloating, gas, cramping and/or diarrhea after eating foods that contain fructose. The body's lack of fructase, which is an enzyme that the small intestine produces normally, causes the fructose malabsorption.
Hereditary Fructose Intolerance Versus Fructose Malabsorption
Fructose Malabsorption should not be confused with Hereditary Fructose Intolerance.
Fructose Malabsorption is quite common and may affect three out of ten people. The malabsorption is caused by the lack of certain cells within the lining of the intestine that digest the fructose. This can cause symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, gassiness, fatigue, mood changes, depression, and malnutrition.
Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI) is different and very serious. Hereditary Fructose Intolerance is very rare, and is inherited. With HFI, you have a genetic condition in which you do not produce the enzyme that breaks down fructose. If you have HFI you must stick to a fructose free diet. If not, you will have great risks of serious problems, such as liver failure, which can be fatal. With HFI you may notice similar symptoms to fructose malabsorption.
Fructose Malabsorption Breath Test
The fructose malabsorption breath test is performed by giving the patient a fructose-rich drink and then the patient's breath is tested at regular intervals over a period of a few hours to determine the amount of hydrogen in his or her breath.
The reason they are testing for hydrogen in the breath is because if fructose is malabsorbed, then a large amount of fructose gets to the colon where fructose is broken down into fatty acids, hydrogen gas, lactic acid, methane, and carbon dioxide by bacteria in the colon. The hydrogen will then be absorbed into the colon and carried back to the lungs through the blood stream.
Please visit our message board to discuss fructose malabsorption with other mothers!
Written by: Eli's Mom, Erin
Read more about Other Conditions:
Adjusting to Eli's Fructose Malabsorption,
Fun Fructose-Free Foods for Toddlers and Children
»View all articles«
Other Links
,
|
|
