Have you ever had a craving for sweets or fruits, only to feel terrible afterward? If so, you may be dealing with a condition called fructose intolerance, the result of your body being unable to tolerate fructose, a simple sugar found in fruit and some other foods.
People with fructose intolerance are unable to break down fructose properly, which usually leads to uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms. The condition has two forms — determining which you have requires an expert evaluation and diagnostic testing for a definitive diagnosis.
At Gateway Gastroenterology in St. Louis and Chesterfield, Missouri, our team of experienced gastroenterologists provides fructose intolerance testing, colonoscopies, and esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) to determine what's causing uncomfortable GI symptoms like diarrhea and bloating.
Fructose intolerance can result in an inability to absorb the sugar properly, the result of dietary choices. Another type of fructose intolerance, called hereditary fructose intolerance, is genetic.
Fructose intolerance causes a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, including gas and bloating. However, hereditary fructose intolerance leads to substantial consequences without proper management.
People with hereditary fructose intolerance is a genetic form of the disease in which you’re born without the enzyme that breaks down fructose. This form of fructose intolerance is usually noticeable as soon as a baby begins eating solid foods.
People with hereditary fructose intolerance experience various symptoms when eating fructose, which include:
Because the body can’t break down fructose, those with this form of the condition have a build-up of fructose in the body if they consume it. The result is liver and kidney damage that can lead to seizures, a coma, and even multiple organ failure unless fructose is completely eliminated from the diet.
Dietary fructose intolerance is more prevalent than hereditary fructose intolerance. It happens when the intestines don’t absorb fructose, causing various symptoms that include:
Unfortunately, diagnosing this form of fructose intolerance isn’t easy. Eating foods that are high in fructose usually causes intestinal symptoms within minutes to hours of eating the foods.
You may need to perform an elimination diet, as fructose intolerance mimics many symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. We also offer fructose intolerance testing to get you the diagnosis you need to begin feeling better.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any cure-alls for either type of fructose intolerance. Management includes eliminating foods containing fructose or conducting an elimination diet to manage symptoms.
For people with hereditary fructose intolerance, eliminating fructose is the best way to deal with symptoms. It’s essential to eliminate fructose to avoid complications and organ failure.
We work with you and a nutritionist to identify foods low in fructose and develop a personalized diet plan tailored to your needs for optimal health.
Dietary fructose intolerance isn’t as strict, because everyone dealing with it can eat a different amount of fructose before experiencing symptoms. We suggest doing an elimination diet and adding in small amounts of fructose to see how your body reacts.
If you think or know you have either form of fructose intolerance, call or message Gateway Gastroenterology today to schedule an appointment for fructose intolerance testing. We have offices in St. Louis, Ballwin, Des Peres, and Chesterfield, Missouri.