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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What are the signs and symptoms of fructose intolerance?

    Related Topics
    Digestive Health Fructose Intolerance Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
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    Joy Anderson

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    Joy is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Accredited Nutritionist, as well as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She has a special interest in … View Profile

    Signs and symptoms are usually those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), that is, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and/or constipation. Symptoms are only in the digestive tract.

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    Kaye Haslam

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    As a private practice Dietitian/Nutritionist with over 30 years experience I have a special interest in weight management & related health issues such as Diabetes, … View Profile

    Fructose malabsorption can manifest in many ways including bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation are all common symptoms. If these symptoms occur regularly after ingesting certain foods particularly fruits & vegetables then this could be investigated.
    Hydrogen breath testing can determine the degree of the problem & then a consultation with a Dietitian to advise on dietary changes would be recommended.

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    Nicole Moore

    Dietitian

    I am the Senior Dietitian and Director of Menuconcepts.  We  provide personalised, one on one consultations and develop individual weight loss and health programs.  We have clinics … View Profile

    The symptoms are usually bloating, wind, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and/or constipation. This is due to the fructose sugar being poorly absorbed in the small intestine and it being fermented by bacteria to produce gas.   I often commence my clients initially on a low FODMAP diet, and then challenge back fructose, lactose, polyols, FOS and GOS, and I always emphasise the importance of a high fibre diet.  It is important to seek the advice of an experienced accredited dietitian.
    Nicole Moore
    Accredited Practising Dietitian
    www.menuconcepts.com.au

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    Dr Dick Beatty

    GP (General Practitioner)

    Dr Dick Beatty is a Full Time Vasectomist - operating across locations in South East Queensland, including Greenslopes Private Hospital. View Profile

    The two usual ways of finding out if you're intolerant to fructose are:

    (1) Try a fructose-free diet for 4 weeks or

    (2) Do a hydrogen breath test first to see if fructose intolerance might be contributing to your symptoms; this test is not “easy” in the sense that it requires testing at least 2 to 3 sugars on different days, with breath samples taken every 20 minutes for up to 3 hours on each day, and it costs around $100 per sugar tested with no medicare rebate. It is normal to malabsorb fructose when taken in large amounts, but some people malabsorb more than others, and some people get symptoms whilst others don't (because of bowel hypersensitivity and/or increased motility of the bowel).

    Fructose is found in foods like apple, pears, grapes, watermelon, asparagus, leek, onion, honey … ideally, see a dietician to look at other aspects of your diet - as fructose is only one of the FODMAPs. The following document gives more information about fructose containing foods: http://sacfs.asn.au/download/fructosemalabsorptionjune07.pdf

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