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Effect of age on fructose malabsorption in children presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms

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dc.contributor.authorJones, H.
dc.contributor.authorBurt, E.
dc.contributor.authorDowling, K.
dc.contributor.authorDavidson, G.
dc.contributor.authorBrooks, D.
dc.contributor.authorButler, R.
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVES: Fructose malabsorption can produce symptoms such as chronic diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Here, we retrospectively review breath hydrogen test (BHT) results to determine whether age has an effect on the clinical application of the fructose BHT and compare this with the lactose BHT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were referred to a gastroenterology breath-testing clinic (2003-2008) to investigate carbohydrate malabsorption as a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients received either 0.5 g/kg body weight of fructose (maximum of 10 g) or 2 g/kg of lactose (maximum of 20 g), in water, and were tested for 2.5 hours. RESULTS: Patient age showed a significant effect on the fructose BHT results (P < 0.001, 0.1-79 years old, n = 1093). The odds of testing positive for fructose malabsorption in paediatric patients (15 years old or younger, n = 760) decreased by a factor of 0.82/year (95% confidence interval 0.79-0.86, P < 0.001). There were 88.2% positive in younger than 1-year-olds, 66.6% in 1- to 5-year-olds, 40.4% in 6- to 10-year-olds, and 27.1% in 10- to 15-year-olds. In contrast, 39.3% of lactose BHTs were positive, with no significant relation between patient age and test result (P = 0.115, 0.1-89 years old, n = 3073). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of infants with gastrointestinal symptoms exhibited fructose malabsorption, but the capacity to absorb fructose increased with patient age up to 10 years old. The low threshold for fructose absorption in younger children has significant implications for the performance and interpretation of the fructose BHT and for the dietary consumption of fructose in infants with gastrointestinal symptoms.
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2011; 52(5):581-584
dc.identifier.doi10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181fd1315
dc.identifier.issn0277-2116
dc.identifier.issn1536-4801
dc.identifier.orcidBrooks, D. [0000-0001-9098-3626]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1959.8/123465
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherLIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
dc.rightsCopyright 2011 European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181fd1315
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectGastrointestinal Diseases
dc.subjectMalabsorption Syndromes
dc.subjectHydrogen
dc.subjectDietary Carbohydrates
dc.subjectFructose
dc.subjectBreath Tests
dc.subjectPrevalence
dc.subjectRisk Factors
dc.subjectRetrospective Studies
dc.subjectAge Factors
dc.subjectAdolescent
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectAged
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectChild
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectYoung Adult
dc.titleEffect of age on fructose malabsorption in children presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.mmsid9915909128601831

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