Hereditary fructose intolerance ( HFI )
Written by:The Hereditary Intolerance to Fructose is a genetic error of the metabolism that causes the malabsorption of fructose.
When fructose is ingested, it must be absorbed by the intestinal cells and the body must metabolize it correctly. There are people in whom this does not happen since they lack the enzyme fructose (Aldolase B). This is a consequence of a congenital error.
This deficiency generates an intermediate product of the degradation of fructose that is toxic to the organism .
How to know if I have Hereditary Heredity to Fructose
The symptoms that usually cause are diverse. From a failure to thrive, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, liver dysfunction, hypoglycemia and yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes due to an increase in bilirubin.
Most of these symptoms appear with the introduction of fructose foods during breastfeeding. The good news is that thanks to an early diagnosis and carrying out a good dietary treatment, the symptoms can improve. In this way, although the IHF is a situation that is maintained for life, its consequences can be minimized.
For its diagnosis, it is necessary to resort to biochemical tests and genetic tests. And, although the disorder usually appears at very young ages , sometimes the diagnosis may be later because the children acquire an aversion to the products with fructose but it is not until later when they present these symptoms so marked.
Create a proper diet
The treatment is based on a strict diet in which the consumption of more than 1-2gr of fructose, sorbitol or sucrose is prohibited.. Therefore, to follow the diet successfully is essential to avoid any food containing fructose. It is also recommended to read the labels of all the products that we consume, although very few manufactured foods can be consumed safely with IHF.
Fructose is found naturally in honey, fruit, vegetables and other foods of vegetable origin and is also added as a sweetener in dietetic or diabetic products and is also used as an excipient in medicines.
For its part, sucrose is found in sugar, either white or brown and, therefore, it is found in many sweet products such as cookies, desserts, breakfast cereals or biscuits.. A part, some fruits and vegetables contain it and it is also used for the elaboration of some syrups and medicines for children. Finally, sorbitol can be found in fruits and vegetables but above all it is used as a sweetener in multiple dietary products.
The downside is that in a diet without fructose there are insufficient sources of Vitamin C, so it is recommended to supplement with this nutrient. In addition, it is also advisable to take folic acid supplements as it increases the activity of glycolytic enzymes.
