Fructose is the primary sugar in fruit, but some people cannot digest it properly. Because the symptoms can mimic other food intolerances or sensitivities, fructose malabsorption often goes undiagnosed for long periods of time. Fortunately, once it's diagnosed, it is easily treated through avoidance of the foods that contain the problem sugars.
Fructose
Fructose can be found in most fruits, some vegetables, honey, maple syrup and many processed foods. High-fructose corn syrup is a common source of fructose found in sodas, desserts, sauces and even some savory foods. Sucrose, otherwise known as table sugar, also contains fructose. The chemical structure of sucrose is actually fructose and glucose bound together, which break apart once digested, releasing fructose into the digestive tract.
Fructose Malabsorption
People with fructose malabsorption have trouble digesting fructose and products that contain fructose. Unlike hereditary fructose intolerance, which can cause severe liver and kidney damage, fructose malabsorption is generally not a highly dangerous condition. People with fructose malabsorption usually experience symptoms of gastrointestinal distress when they eat fructose, including abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea. Some people with fructose malabsorption also develop irritable bowel syndrome, a condition that involves inflammation of the intestines. In some cases, sufferers develop fatigue, anxiety and depression as a result of this disorder.
Treatment
The basic treatment for fructose malabsorption is to avoid foods containing fructose and sucrose. However, different people with the disorder can tolerate different levels of fructose in the diet, so complete avoidance is not always necessary. Many sufferers tolerate sucrose better than pure fructose. In some people, fructose malabsorption disorder is so mild they may never show consistent symptoms and develop only occasional abdominal problems of indeterminate origin. You can determine your own threshold of fructose tolerance by following an elimination diet in which you cut out all fructose and sucrose for a few weeks, then slowly reintroduce small amounts until you reach a point where symptoms return.
Considerations
Unlike a food allergy, fructose malabsorption does not involve an immune response to any food. When fructose malabsorption causes diarrhea symptoms, nutrient deficiencies may occur if food moves too quickly through the intestines for the body to completely pull out all the vitamins and minerals. If you suspect you might have fructose malabsorption disorder, talk to your doctor about blood and urine tests to help narrow down the source of your abdominal distress. People with fructose malabsorption frequently also have other food intolerances, such as to lactose or gluten.
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