Dietary fructose intolerance: diet modification can impact self-rated health and symptom control

Frederick C Johlin; Mary Panther; Nancy Kraft

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Dietary fructose intolerance: diet modification can impact self-rated health and symptom control

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Dietary fructose intolerance: diet modification can impact self-rated health and symptom control

Frederick C Johlin, Mary Panther and Nancy Kraft

Nutrition in clinical care, Vol.7(3), pp.92-97

07/2004

PMID: 15624540

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Abstract

Carbohydrate intolerance to lactose is widely accepted as a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms, but controversy persists on how important dietary fructose intolerance (DFI) is in causing gastrointestinal pain and suffering and if an elimination diet can control the presenting complaints. The objective of this study was to identify a group of well-defined DFI patients and explore whether dietary education followed by dietary compliance could control symptoms and improve quality of life. During a 5-year period, patients referred to a pancreato-biliary clinic were evaluated for dietary carbohydrate intolerances if they presented with gastrointestinal pain and/or gas and/or bloating and/or diarrhea. Patients were tested with a standardized mixture of glucose, fructose, and lactose diluted in sterile water. End-expiratory breath samples were collected for hydrogen and methane measurement. Symptoms were scored using a 9-point symptom questionnaire. The patients underwent in-depth education by a dietician, and were provided with access to a cookbook, a newsletter, and a support group. A dietary questionnaire was used to evaluate compliance with the fructose-restricted diet. DFI can cause significant gastrointestinal symptoms that may not respond to medications or surgical interventions. Symptoms can improve and self-rated health does improve in DFI patients willing to adhere to a low fructose diet.

Quality of Life

Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage

Flatulence - etiology

Abdominal Pain - etiology

Fructose - adverse effects

Sweetening Agents - metabolism

Humans

Breath Tests

Malabsorption Syndromes - diet therapy

Male

Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism

Fructose - metabolism

Diarrhea - diet therapy

Malabsorption Syndromes - etiology

Flatulence - diet therapy

Diarrhea - etiology

Female

Surveys and Questionnaires

Abdominal Pain - diet therapy

Dietary Carbohydrates - adverse effects

Patient Compliance

Fructose - administration & dosage

Patient Education as Topic

Details

Title: Subtitle: Dietary fructose intolerance: diet modification can impact self-rated health and symptom control
Creators: Frederick C Johlin - Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. frederick-johlin@uiowa.edu
Mary Panther
Nancy Kraft
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Nutrition in clinical care, Vol.7(3), pp.92-97
PMID: 15624540
ISSN: 1096-6781
eISSN: 1523-5408
Language: English
Date published: 07/2004
Academic Unit: Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984094502702771

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