Fructose-sorbitol ingestion provokes gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with eating disorders

To evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and breath hydrogen responses to oral fructose-sorbitol (F-S) and glucose challenges in eating disorder (ED) patients.

GI symptoms and hydrogen breath concentration were monitored in 26 female ED inpatients for 3 h, following ingestion of 50 g glucose on one day, and 25 g fructose/5 g sorbitol on the next day, after an overnight fast on each occasion. Responses to F-S were compared to those of 20 asymptomatic healthy females.

F-S provoked GI symptoms in 15 ED patients and one healthy control (P<0.05 ED vs control). Only one ED patient displayed symptom provocation to glucose (P<0.01 vs F-S response). A greater symptom response was observed in ED patients with a body mass index (BMI)17.5 kg/m2 (P<0.01). There were no differences in psychological scores, prevalence of functional GI disorders or breath hydrogen responses between patients with and without an F-S response.

F-S, but not glucose, provokes GI symptoms in ED patients, predominantly those with low BMI. These findings are important in the dietary management of ED patients.