title: Fructose: incomplete intestinal absorption in humans.
abstract: Fructose is an increasingly important commercial sweetener. However, some patients report abdominal symptoms after ingesting fructose-containing foods. The completeness of fructose absorption by the small intestine was assessed by breath hydrogen analysis in 16 healthy volunteers and incomplete absorption was defined as a peak rise in breath hydrogen of greater than 20 parts per million. Fructose, 50 g as a 10% solution, was incompletely absorbed in 6 of 16 subjects (37.5%). Incomplete absorption was associated with symptoms of cramps or diarrhea, or both in 5 of these 6 individuals. Incomplete absorption was both concentration- and dose-related. Three subjects incompletely absorbed 37.5 g of fructose. In comparison, all 15 subjects who were studied after ingestion of sucrose, 50 g and a 10% solution, completely absorbed this sugar load. Incomplete absorption of fructose should be considered as a possible case of gastrointestinal symptoms.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D005632:Fructose