Fructose malabsorption

Fructose is a simple sugar found in fruits that is swallowed in the form of sucrose. Fructose is absorbed by intestinal cells. At the moment that there is a process in the metabolization is when the fructose intolerance appears.

Unlike hereditary fructose intolerance, in the case of fructose malabsorption, intestinal cells are not able to fully or partially absorb fructose. As a result, a series of gastrointestinal symptoms appear, the most frequent being diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea.. Depending on the level of severity of these symptoms the dietary treatment will be different.

Food restrictions

Patients suffering from malabsorption should follow a strict diet based on the restriction of fructose and, again, the degree of restriction will vary depending on whether the malabsorption is partial or total.

In the case that intolerance is total, the diet should be very limited. In fact, the patient will not be able to eat any food that contains fructose or sucrose. The most appropriate diet would be that of a person suffering from Hereditary Intolerance to fructose .

On the other hand, in the case of partial intolerance , which is the most frequent, the person may consume certain foods, which due to their low fructose content, are not harmful to their organism. In the same way, certain foods with a high fructose content are also allowed to consume moderately.

Vitamin supplements

In either case, the recommended diet has a negative side, and it is the deficiency in Vitamin C. To counteract it, it is recommended to take supplements of this nutrient. The same happens in the case of folic acid, since it increases the activity of glycolytic enzymes, and among them, fructose-1-phosphate-aldolase, which will allow to consume a slight extra amount of fructose without suffering the consequences that previously they commented.