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-phosphataldolase, food is poorly absorbed, the process of fermentation in the intestine begins. Residues 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 type of pathological condition of the human body is often manifested among children during the consumption of food, which is rich in fruit sugar. If we talk about symptoms of fructose intolerance, then nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia and hepatomegaly should be attributed. The treatment of the disease should be started in a timely manner, since this pathology can even provoke a fatal outcome.
Fructose intolerance and its differences from allergies
The nonperception 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, itching syndrome on the skin, as well as on the mucous membranes, should be attributed to it. Signs of fructose intolerance include a characteristic rash, soreness in the epigastric region, a malfunction in the digestive system, including stool disorder.
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 fructose, which was consumed by humans. The body perceives this substance as foreign, as a result of which it produces a large number of protective antibodies called immunoglobulins. It is they that cause allergic symptoms.
During food intolerance, such a 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.
To develop a food syndrome, it is enough for a person to use a small amount of allergens, as a result of which the corresponding symptoms begin to occur. And with fructose intolerance, a delayed reaction is observed, mainly a few days after eating certain foods.
Statistics show 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 people 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.
The manifestation of symptoms of intolerance in children and adults
If fructose intolerance was diagnosed by a specialist, then symptoms in adults can occur even with a small amount of this substance. First of all, sucrose should be included here. In the human body, sugar is formed in fructose, while the amount of its content in the blood decreases. Fructose intolerance in a child and an adult will occur with the following symptoms:
- increased sweating;
- trembling limbs;
- delimitation in space;
- pain in the epigastric region;
- nausea and vomiting;
- cramps.
- coma that occurs in more severe cases.
If the patient for a long time eats improperly and includes fructose-containing foods in his diet, then the activity of the stoves is disrupted, which will require further treatment of a different specificity.
Causes of intolerance
The main reason for fructose intolerance is the lack of enzymes in the human body that break down useful substances into sugar. At the same time, a weakened immune system enhances the effect of food rejection. Fructose-1-phosphataldolase promotes the normal digestion of food, and also removes all undigested food residues. If a deficiency of this enzyme is observed, the process of decay of undigested products in the human body will begin, as well as fermentation processes. In this case, fructose will not be split, it will remain in the human body in the form of undesirable harmful accumulations.
In the most severe cases, the amount of fruit sugar provokes cirrhosis of the liver, and also leads to problems in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. In adults, the causes of a negative reaction to fructose are as follows:
- Irregular nutrition or constant overeating.
- Excessive consumption of fruits, honey, fruit juices, sweets.
- Too early introduction of complementary foods in newborns.
- In large quantities, the use of fruits, sweets, honey, juices and syrups by the mother who breastfeeds the baby.
- Hypersensitivity 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 children who have a genetic type of intolerance to this component, after birth, should be transferred to a 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 such children, special tests and tests with a load were developed, as a result of which it turns out whether it is necessary to adhere to the diet further or whether it can be canceled.
Manifestations of intolerance in infants
Intolerance to this substance fully develops in infants to whom it was transmitted by inheritance. Due to the disease, the baby does not receive the necessary amount of healthy vegetables and fruits, which is why some systems of his body develop very slowly, and also can not cope with its basic functions. The body is unable to gain enough mass, indigestion and colic appear. In infants, the causes of fructose intolerance may be as follows:
- A pregnant woman included in her diet a large number of products that contain fruit sugar.
- The baby's diet was improperly composed. Excessive amounts of fruit or their deficiency does not benefit the child's body.
- The kid too often transmits. For this reason, the remnants of food begin to accumulate in the stomach, after which they rot and wander.
Test
When a patient visits a medical institution, a specialist should 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 symptoms manifested, the limitation of their appearance, previous factors. In addition, it is necessary to find out whether the patient has a hereditary predisposition to such a pathology.
After this, laboratory tests, such as blood biochemistry, are prescribed. In some cases, a DNA study is carried out, as a result of which a mutation in the genes is detected. General tests of blood and urine are mandatory, the level of sugar in the biological fluid is checked.
Using a biopsy, the condition of the liver is determined, as well as the activity of the enzyme produced, which promotes the breakdown of fructose.
In parallel with this, a specialist conducts a special test that provokes a reaction to a simple carbohydrate. During this procedure, a certain amount of substance is administered to a person, after which a blood sample is examined for existing changes. Thanks to this diagnosis, fructose intolerance is determined.
Treatment methods
With existing hypersensitivity to carbohydrates from the diet should be excluded products that are allergens. These include those that contain fructose. Even in small amounts, it can cause characteristic symptoms. To remove allergens that enter 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.
Power Features
Treating fructose intolerance involves the exclusion of certain ingredients from the entire diet. First of all, the following are prohibited products:
- Melon, pear, plum, apple, cherry, potato, broccoli, bell pepper, cauliflower.
- Fruit-based fructose pasta and sauce.
- Honey and other beekeeping products.
- Fortified wine.
It is allowed to eat foods that contain more glucose than fructose. These include raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, tangerines, oranges, kiwi, bananas.
You will also need to give up sweets, sugar, chewing gums, sweet pastry, cakes and cookies.
Diet features
In case of intolerance to products containing fructose, they must be completely removed from daily nutrition. In combination with such a diet, drugs that have an absorbing effect are taken. They help to remove irritating components from the body.
To get rid of a skin rash, you can apply local drugs with an anti-allergic effect.
Preventative methods
To eliminate the hereditary predisposition to this pathology, unfortunately, there are no means. You can only apply measures to prevent signs of intolerance. For this, it is necessary to exclude products containing fructose from the diet, not transfer, take calcium gluconate for prevention, as well as treat and detect diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in a timely manner.
Conclusion
Fructose intolerance is a problem that patients have had throughout their lives. However, it is possible to fight this pathology. Thanks to preventive measures, many patients manage to avoid unpleasant symptoms and unwanted complications.