Fructose Malabsorption

Fructose malabsorption is a digestive condition that can cause bloating, wind and other gut-related discomforts. It is often seen in children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), but it can affect anyone.

Fructose is a type of sugar (carbohydrate) naturally found in many fruits, vegetables, honey and wheat. It can appear in foods in three main ways:

1. As free fructose – naturally present in fruits and some vegetables.
2. Joined with glucose – to form table sugar (sucrose).
3. As part of a fructan – chains of fructose linked to one glucose molecule.

Normally, when your child eats food containing fructose, it is absorbed through the lining of the small intestine and then converted into glucose to provide energy.
If the body’s transport mechanism for fructose isn’t working properly, some of the fructose is not absorbed and instead travels to the large intestine (colon).

This can cause two main problems:

1. Excess water in the small intestine, leading to diarrhoea.
2. Fermentation in the colon, where bacteria break down the fructose, producing gases and short-chain fatty acids. This results in bloating, wind, tummy pain, reflux and even headaches.

Fructose malabsorption is different from Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic condition diagnosed in infancy. HFI occurs when the liver lacks the enzyme needed to break down fructose and, if untreated, can cause serious liver problems.

For most children with fructose malabsorption, the goal is not to cut out fructose completely, which is nearly impossible but to find the right amount they can tolerate without uncomfortable symptoms. Every child is different.

How We Diagnose Fructose Malabsorption – The Hydrogen Breath Test

At our clinic, we use the Hydrogen Breath Test (HBT) to diagnose fructose malabsorption. This simple, non-invasive test measures the amount of hydrogen in your child’s breath after they consume a small amount of fructose. Higher levels of hydrogen suggest that fructose is not being fully absorbed in the small intestine.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance happens when the body has difficulty digesting lactose, the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products.

Children with lactose intolerance may experience bloating, wind, diarrhoea and tummy cramps after eating lactose-containing foods. While the symptoms can be unpleasant, lactose does not harm the gut or overall health in the same way as conditions like coeliac disease or Hereditary Fructose Intolerance.

Management involves:

• Reducing foods high in lactose and testing your child’s individual tolerance level.
• Using lactase enzyme drops or tablets with meals to help digest lactose.At our clinic in West Sussex, we offer expert investigation and treatment for children with food intolerance. Conveniently located to serve patients from surrounding areas, including Reigate, Chichester, Banstead, Dorking, Epsom, Guildford, Redhill, Southampton, Portsmouth, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Croydon, Leatherhead, Kingston-upon-Thames, Tonbridge, Maidstone, Kensington, Hammersmith and Twickenham.

  Contact Paediatric Gut Investigation Clinic today to book child food intolerance testing at one of our specialist paediatric clinics.