Fructose intolerance in children presenting with abdominal pain.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the occurrence of fructose malabsorption in pediatric patients with previous diagnoses of abdominal pain caused by a functional bowel disorder, whether the restriction of fructose intake changes the reporting of symptoms, the role of fructose dosage, and the severity of resultant symptoms.


METHODS
We administered a fructose breath test to children presenting with persistent unexplained abdominal pain. Patients randomly received 1, 15, or 45 g fructose, and breath hydrogen was measured for 3 hours after ingestion. Test results were positive when breath hydrogen was 20 ppm greater than baseline and was accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms.


RESULTS
A total of 32 patients was enrolled, and none of the 9 who received 1 g had positive results. Three of 10 who received 15 g and 8 of 13 who received 45 g had positive results. All patients with positive test results restricted their fructose intake. Among the group with positive results, 9 of 11 had rapid improvement of their gastrointestinal symptoms. After 2 months, all 9 patients continued to report improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that fructose malabsorption may be a significant problem in children and that management of dietary intake can be effective in reducing gastrointestinal symptoms.
Gomara
Robert E
RE
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Halata
Michael S
MS
Newman
Leonard J
LJ
Bostwick
Howard E
HE
Berezin
Stuart H
SH
Cukaj
Lynnette
L
See
Mary C
MC
Medow
Marvin S
MS
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005633:Fructose Intolerance / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D005632:Fructose