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IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTESTINAL FRUCTOSE MALABSORPTION, GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AFTER FRUCTOSE OVERLOAD,
Dayane Pêdra Batista de Faria1,2, Ana Paula Bidutte Cortez1,2, Ricardo Palmero Oliveira1
1Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Gastroenterologia Pediátrica, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Arquivos De Gastroenterologia
|May 28, 2026
Summary
Fructose malabsorption is common in adolescents, even without symptoms, and doesn't link to obesity or gut permeability. However, it may correlate with higher urea levels and increased fermentation.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Gastroenterology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Dietary fructose intake has risen, coinciding with increased obesity rates.
- Fructose malabsorption is linked to gastrointestinal issues and potential intolerance.
- Evidence suggests a connection between fructose malabsorption and increased body fat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of fructose malabsorption and intolerance in asymptomatic adolescents.
- To explore the relationship between fructose malabsorption/intolerance and fructose intake, body adiposity, metabolic markers, and intestinal permeability.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 37 asymptomatic adolescents.
- Hydrogen and lactulose breath tests for fructose malabsorption.
- Food intake surveys, anthropometric measurements, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), and serum zonulin levels for metabolic and permeability assessment.
Main Results:
- Fructose malabsorption was found in 43.2% of adolescents.
- No significant association was observed between fructose malabsorption and body adiposity or intestinal permeability (zonulin levels).
- Adolescents with fructose malabsorption showed significantly higher urea levels compared to those without.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal fructose malabsorption is prevalent in asymptomatic adolescents.
- It is not associated with adiposity, altered biochemical markers, or increased intestinal permeability.
- Fructose malabsorption correlates with increased fermentation and may be linked to gastrointestinal symptoms in fructose intolerance.
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