Gastrointestinal symptoms often disrupt daily life, causing abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and discomfort, commonly linked with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, and Celiac Disease.
But many people forget about fructose intolerance. If you are fructose-intolerant, your body can’t properly digest the sugar fructose, which is found in many fruits and vegetables. The result is often GI symptoms, but in some cases it can be much worse, leading to organ failure.
It’s never good to ignore GI symptoms, which is why the Gateway Gastroenterology team offers fructose intolerance testing, lactose intolerance testing, and endoscopy.colonoscopies.
Our board-certified gastroenterologists listen to your symptoms to determine the best diagnostic testing and treatment plan for a healthy gut.
Signs of fructose intolerance
Fructose intolerance has two forms – dietary and hereditary.
People with dietary fructose intolerance have cells in the intestine that can’t break down and absorb fructose. The result is a buildup of sugar within the gut, which causes uncomfortable symptoms.
People with hereditary fructose intolerance are born without the enzyme that breaks down fructose. This form of fructose intolerance can lead to serious health issues, including permanent kidney and liver damage.
Knowing the signs of fructose intolerance may help you get to the bottom of your symptoms. The most common signs of fructose intolerance include:
The symptoms usually occur immediately or within a half hour of consuming foods containing fructose. Hereditary fructose intolerance symptoms are more severe than those that accompany dietary intolerance.
What happens if I have these signs?
GI symptoms from fructose intolerance can be very uncomfortable. If symptoms follow eating fruits, veggies, or honey, seek an evaluation.
At your appointment, our team discusses symptoms and when they began. We also discuss your bowel habits and perform a physical exam. If we suspect fructose intolerance, we schedule testing.
We test for fructose intolerance in the office. You start by breathing into an analyzer to measure hydrogen in your breath.
Then you drink a fructose solution, and we measure your breath every 15 to 20 minutes. A rise in hydrogen indicates possible fructose intolerance. The test lasts a few hours, after which you can return to normal activities.
Treating fructose intolerance
Managing fructose intolerance is the only way to alleviate symptoms and prevent organ damage. Dietary fructose intolerance simply requires nutrition changes such as avoiding fruits, vegetables, and other foods containing fructose. Many processed foods contain high fructose corn syrup, which is another source of fructose that is often forgotten.
Many people can find a happy medium by eating 10 to 15 grams of fructose per day. Each person has a tolerance level that their body can handle without symptoms.
Limiting foods that contain fructose and keeping a food diary helps you determine your body’s tolerance level.
Hereditary fructose intolerance requires you to strictly avoid fructose, sucrose, and sorbitol because consuming even small amounts of these can lead to harmful effects on your liver and kidneys. Sticking to this diet is essential to protect your long-term organ health and avoid permanent damage.
Don’t hesitate to call one of our conveniently located offices in Chesterfield, Saint Louis, Ballwin, or Des Peres, Missouri, to schedule fructose intolerance testing today. You can also request a consultation on our website.