Fabulously fructose friendly: What is hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI)?

Saturday, August 17, 2013

What is hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI)?

We get asked this question a lot – so I though I would write a special post for you all…

HFI is an inherited (genetic) condition where a person is born unable to digest the sugar fructose. Unlike fructose malabsorption, where symptoms occur because the cells of the bowel cannot absorb fructose; HFI is a deficiency and inability to produce the liver enzyme (fructose 1-aldolase, to be technical!) needed to breakdown fructose. Symptoms of HFI are only seen when the child eats fructose for the first time and if left untreated can cause severe health problems for the child.

How common is HFI?

About 1 in every 25,000 people are reported to have HFI

How common is Fructose malabsorption?

About 1 in 3 people have fructose malabsorption.

Treatment of HFI

Elimination of fructose, sucrose and sorbitol under the guidance of Paediatrician and dietitian.

This differs from fructose malabsorption, where small to moderate amounts of fructose can still be consumed without symptoms when balanced out with a higher proportion of glucose.

There are often lots of terms thrown around these days and some incorrectly used interchangeably. In this case, I hope this clarifies the difference between HFI and fructose malabsorption for you.

G xx

By Georgie Rist. Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD), Accredited Nutritionist, and Sports Dietitian

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Just been diagnosed?

Don't panic! You are NOT alone...

Did you know it is estimated that 1 in 3 people suffer from Fructose intolerance? Intolerance levels vary between individuals but common symptoms include:
Stomach issues: poor digestion, bloating, wind, pain etc.
Tiredness, Chronic fatigue
Low iron (anaemia), osteoporosis or other nutrient deficiency
Sugar cravings
Poor skin, nails and hair
Clinical evidence also links it with mood disturbances and depression.
Fructose malabsorption can be diagnosed using a hydrogen breath test, which recognises unabsorbed fructose.

It can be difficult navigating which foods to avoid if you suffer from fructose malabsorption. We are working on a detailed list; in the meantime a very broad list is below:

• Fruit and fruit juices: apple, cherry, grape, guava, mango, honeydew, watermelon), orange, papaya, pear, persimmon, pineapple, quince, star fruit.
• Most dried fruit, including currant, dates, dried fruit or health bars, fig, raisin.
• Processed fruit: barbecue sauce, chutney, fruit from tins (often in pear juice), plum sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and tomato paste.
• Berries in large qty: blueberry, raspberry, strawberry
• Sweets, food and drinks with very high sucrose (table sugar) content and with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
• Honey, maple syrup, molasses
• Vegetables in larger quantities (fructan content): artichoke, asparagus, beans, broccoli, cabbage, chicory, leek, onion, peanuts, tomato, zucchini, garlic
• Sweet wines: dessert wines, muscatel, port, and sherry.
• Wheat- based products: flour, pasta, bread, and whole-grain breakfast cereals.
• Whole-meal products in large amounts.
• Sorbitol (E420 is sorbitol) and xylitol (E967 is xylitol) containing foods: diet / ‘light’ and diabetic drinks, sugar-free chewing gum and sweets / candies, stone fruit, dried fruits (e.g. apple, apricot, date, fig, nectarine, peach, plum, raisin). Beer may be a problem in large amounts.
• Inulin, a fructan, content is high in the following foods generally known to cause bloating and gas: Asparagus, dandelion leaves, garlic, leeks, onion and wheat bran.

For more information see:http://www.foodintolerances.com.au/fructose-food-table.aspx

More to come. So stay tuned...

M&A

Saturday, August 17, 2013

What is hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI)?

What is hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI)?

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Just been diagnosed?

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