Fructose Intolerance Test

About fructose intolerance

Fructose is a form of carbohydrate that is found in ordinary granulated sugar (sucrose). When fructose cannot be broken down / absorbed through the intestinal wall, it attracts water which in turn can cause intestinal and stomach problems. Fructose intolerance, also called fructosemia, means that you have fructose in the blood that the body has difficulty breaking down due to a lack of degrading enzyme. In most cases, it is a hereditary disease caused by a change in the gene for the enzyme aldolase B (ALDOB). It varies a lot how you are affected and what symptoms you get. Some suffer completely without symptoms while others experience stronger pain.

About the Fructose Intolerance Test

This test measures the ability to break down fructose, that is, fructose malabsorption. This means that it is suitable for anyone who suspects a possible problem with breaking down fructose in the body, regardless of the reason. Unlike many other tests that only test for the genetic ability to break down fructose, this test shows your ability to break down fructose for whatever reason.

Symptoms of fructose intolerance

The symptoms of fructose intolerance vary, but signs to be aware of are gas, cramps and pain in the stomach and diarrhea. Children who become acutely ill after fructose intake experience shortness of breath due to lowered pH in the blood. If you suffer from fructose intolerance and at the same time burden the body for a long time with fructose, you risk damage to the liver and kidneys. You should also be observant of other symptoms such as tremors, epileptic seizures and abnormal sweating. Many people with fructose intolerance experience the first symptoms of the disease only after they have had an infection, such as stomach illness, or after a course of antibiotics, although the reduced uptake of fructose in these people has probably been there since childhood.

Some people who suffer from fructose intolerance also have lactose intolerance, so it may be worth trying both.

Cause of fructose intolerance

Fructose is a simple and energy-rich sugar, a so-called monosaccharide that consists of only one sugar molecule. Sucrose is what we commonly call sugar (granulated sugar or brown sugar), which is a disaccharide and consists of two sugar molecules, a fructose molecule and a glucose molecule. In order for fructose to be absorbed in the intestine, it must be converted by a special enzyme called fructose-1,6-bisphosphate dola. In the case of fructose intolerance, there is a deficiency of this enzyme, which normally breaks down fructose, which leads to fructose accumulating in the body instead. This can have a detrimental effect on the liver, kidneys and small intestine.

Fructose intolerance is a hereditary deficiency in the breakdown of fructose in the body and they are usually sorted into two groups.

Essential fructosuria
Essential fructosuria is a mild form of fructose intolerance that does not require treatment other than caution in the intake of fructose.

Congenital fructose intolerance
If you suffer from fructose intolerance from birth, you have a severe deficiency of the enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphataldola from the time you are born. If left untreated, the condition can be life-threatening for some.

Treatment of fructose intolerance

Decreased fructose uptake is a very common condition. The modern western diet contains a lot of fructose and the incidence of fructose intolerance has therefore probably increased. The condition occurs in both healthy people and people with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Fructose is a natural sugar that is used as a sweetener in a variety of foods, including baby foods. Most baby foods are based on lactose (milk sugar) but for example soy products contain sucrose which is broken down into glucose and fructose during digestion. People with fructose intolerance have difficulty breaking down foods containing different types of sugar; in fruits, granulated sugar (sucrose) and sorbitol (sugar alcohol found in eg juices and soft drinks).

People with fructose intolerance can live normal lives if their diet is adjusted at an early stage. Early diagnosis is therefore important and if the condition is not treated, it can lead to serious illness linked to the liver and kidneys.

How does the Fructose Intolerance Test work?

The fructose intolerance test is a breath test that you collect on five occasions over a three-hour period. During your sampling, you should avoid eating food or drink that contains any fructose, as it may affect your test results. It is best to fast completely at least 8 hours before and during the test so as not to risk taking anything that could give a false result on the test. Your sample is then sent to our lab for analysis and you will receive your result digitally as soon as the lab has analysed your sample.