Fructose malabsorption in children with recurrent abdominal pain: positive effects of dietary treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of a fructose-restricted diet in otherwise healthy children with abdominal pain and pathologic fructose hydrogen breath test.

METHODS

75 children (aging 3-14 years) with recurrent abdominal pain without gastrointestinal disease and fructose malabsorption followed a fructose restricted diet for 4 weeks.

RESULTS

A median decline of weekly pain frequency from 4 (mean 3.64+1.6) before diet to 1 (mean 1.46+1.4; p<0.001) under fructose restriction was documented. The intensity of pain decreased from median 6 (mean 5.83+2.0) before intervention to median 3 (mean 3.4+2.5; p<0.001) with diet. Several additional life quality-influencing parameters such as daily stool frequency, nausea, problems to fall asleep, missed school days also improved significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides evidence that dietary fructose restriction represents a useful approach to address recurrent abdominal symptoms in children with fructose malabsorption.