Fructose intolerance in adults and children is a genetically determined disease in which the body lacks an enzyme that breaks it down into useful elements. Weakened immunity contributes to the deterioration of the condition. With an insufficient amount of fructose-1-phosphate aldolase, food is poorly absorbed, the process of fermentation in the intestine begins. The remains of undigested substances are poorly excreted from the body. Because of this, an excessive accumulation of fructose-1-phosphate is formed in the liver, kidneys and intestines.
This kind of pathological condition of the human body is quite often manifested among children while eating food that is rich in fruit sugar. If we talk about the symptoms of fructose intolerance, then this should include nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia and hepatomegaly. The treatment of the disease should be started in a timely manner, since this pathology can even provoke death.
Fructose intolerance and how it differs from an allergy
Rejection of fructose and hypersensitivity to it the human body shows almost the same. Symptoms of fructose intolerance in adults and allergies to this substance are largely similar. First of all, this should include an itchy syndrome on the skin, as well as on the mucous membranes. Signs of fructose intolerance include a characteristic rash, soreness in the epigastric region, disruptions in the digestive system, including impaired stool.
As for allergic manifestations, they are observed against the background of the immune response of the human body to specific stimuli. In this case, the provoking factor is the fructose that was consumed by the person. The body perceives this substance as foreign, as a result of which it produces a large number of protective antibodies called immunoglobulins. They are what cause allergic symptoms.
During food intolerance, this reaction is not observed. Experts believe that increased sensitivity to carbohydrates is associated with the formation of type G immunoglobulins, which are unusual for allergies.
In order for a food syndrome to develop, it is enough for a person to consume a small amount of allergens, as a result of which the corresponding symptoms begin to appear. And with fructose intolerance, there is a delayed reaction, mostly a few days after eating certain foods.
Statistics suggests that the appearance of signs of intolerance to a particular type of food is diagnosed much more often than allergic reactions to a particular component. In this case, we are talking about fructose.
The characteristic symptoms of fructose intolerance are mainly observed in those individuals who suffer from metabolic disorders, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, those people who abuse smoking or lead a sedentary lifestyle are susceptible to this pathology.
Manifestation of symptoms of intolerance in children and adults
If fructose intolerance has been diagnosed by a specialist, then signs in adults can occur even with the use of a small amount of this substance. First of all, sucrose should be attributed here. In the human body, sugar is converted into fructose, and the amount of its content in the blood decreases. Fructose intolerance in a child and an adult will occur with the following symptoms:
- excessive sweating;
- trembling limbs;
- delimitation in space;
- pain in the epigastric region;
- nausea and vomiting;
- convulsions.
- coma that occurs in more severe cases.
If a patient eats improperly for a long time and includes foods containing fructose in his diet, then the operation of the stoves is disrupted, which will require further therapy of a different specificity.
Reason for manifestationintolerance
The main cause of fructose intolerance is the lack of enzymes in the human body that break down beneficial substances into sugar. In parallel with this, a weakened immune system enhances the effect of food rejection. Fructose-1-phosphate aldolase contributes to the normal digestion of food, and also removes all undigested food residues. If there is a lack of this enzyme, the process of rotting of undigested products in the human body will begin, as well as fermentation processes. In this case, fructose will not be broken down, it will remain in the human body in the form of unwanted harmful accumulations.
In the most severe cases, the amount of fruit sugar provokes cirrhosis of the liver, and also leads to problems in the gastrointestinal tract. In adults, the causes of negative reactions to fructose are as follows:
- Irregular meals or constant overeating.
- Excessive consumption of fruits, honey, fruit juices, sweets.
- Too early introduction of complementary foods in newborns.
- Massive consumption of fruits, sweets, honey, juices and syrups by a breastfeeding mother.
- Increased sensitivity of the human body to this component.
- Hereditary predisposition to allergic reactions.
- Pathological diseases of the pancreas.
- Hereditary or congenital fructose intolerance in infants.
Newborn babies whohave a genetic type of intolerance to this component, after birth they should be transferred to special feeding, which will not contain fructose. Diagnosis of fructose intolerance is carried out at a time when the baby is three months old. For these children, special tests and stress tests have been developed, as a result of which it turns out whether it is necessary to continue to adhere to the diet or whether it can be canceled.
Manifestations of intolerance in infants
Full intolerance to this substance develops in infants, to whom it was inherited. Due to a disease, an infant does not receive the required amount of he althy vegetables and fruits, which is why some systems of his body develop very slowly and also do not cope with their basic functions. The body is unable to gain sufficient mass, indigestion and colic appear. In infants, the causes of fructose intolerance may be the following:
- A pregnant woman included in her diet a large number of foods that contain fruit sugar.
- The diet of the baby was incorrectly compiled. Too much or too little fruit is not good for a child.
- Baby transmits too often. For this reason, the remnants of food begin to accumulate in the stomach, after which they rot and roam.
Testing
When a patient goes to a medical institution, the specialist must prescribe a number of diagnostic measures,due to which intolerance is detected. First of all, it is necessary to collect information about the nature of the manifested symptoms, the duration of their appearance, and the antecedent factors. In addition, you need to find out if the patient has a hereditary predisposition to such a pathology.
After that, laboratory tests are prescribed, for example, blood biochemistry. In some cases, a DNA study is performed, as a result of which a mutation in the genes is detected. General blood and urine tests are mandatory, and the level of sugar in the biological fluid is checked.
With the help of a biopsy, the state of the liver is determined, as well as the activity of the produced enzyme that promotes the breakdown of fructose.
In parallel with this, the specialist conducts a special test that provokes a reaction to the simplest carbohydrate. During this procedure, a certain amount of a substance is injected into a person, after which a blood sample is examined for changes. Thanks to this diagnosis, fructose intolerance is determined.
Treatment methods
If you have hypersensitivity to carbohydrates, foods that are allergens should be excluded from the diet. These include those that contain fructose. Even in small quantities, it can cause characteristic symptoms. To remove allergens that have entered the body, sorbent preparations are used.
You can eliminate the unpleasant manifestations of intolerance with the help of antihistamines, which provoke the blocking of histamine production.
Features of food
Treatmentfructose intolerance means eliminating certain ingredients from the entire diet. First of all, the prohibited products include the following:
- Melon, pear, plum, apple, cherry, potato, broccoli, bell pepper, cauliflower.
- Paste and fructose fruit based sauce.
- Honey and other bee products.
- Fortified wine.
It is allowed to eat those foods that contain more glucose than fructose. These include raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, tangerines, oranges, kiwis, bananas.
It will also be necessary to give up sweets, sugar, chewing gum, sweet pastries, muffins and cookies.
Features of the diet
If you are intolerant to foods that contain fructose, they must be completely removed from your daily diet. In combination with such a diet, drugs are taken that have an absorbent effect. They help to remove irritating components from the body.
To get rid of a skin rash, you can use topical drugs with an anti-allergic effect.
Preventive methods
To eliminate the hereditary predisposition to this pathology, unfortunately, there are no means. You can only apply measures to prevent signs of intolerance. To do this, it is necessary to exclude from the diet products that contain fructose, do not transfer, take calcium gluconate for prevention, as well astimely treat and detect diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Conclusion
Fructose intolerance is a problem that patients have throughout their lives. However, it is possible to fight this pathology. Thanks to the observance of preventive measures, many patients manage to avoid unpleasant symptoms and unwanted complications.
