Fructose-induced Breath Hydrogen in Patients With Fruit Intolerance

Abstract

Goals 

To measure bloating score, flatus passage, and hydrogen production after oral fructose in patients with history of fruit intolerance and compare these parameters with those in normal controls.

Background 

Some patients complain of abdominal distention and excessive flatus after ingesting certain fruits such as mango, persimmon, and grapes but not after eating apricots and melon.

Study 

We recorded breath hydrogen, flatus passage and bloating after 20 g fructose in 8 patients with history of fruit intolerance and 4 healthy controls. Breath hydrogen was measured every 15 minutes for 480 minutes using EC-60 gastrolyzer. Number of passage of flatus was recorded over 8 hours. Severity of abdominal distention on a scale of 1 to 10 was noted.

Results 

The patients with fruit intolerance produced breath hydrogen 1745.2±7.8 parts per million, passed flatus 13.8±0.3 times, and had bloating score of 5.7±0.1. The healthy controls produced breath hydrogen 712.5±5.8 parts per million in 8 hours, passed flatus 7.2±0.5 time, and had bloating score of 2.7±0.2.

Conclusions 

After 20 g fructose, patients with history of fruit intolerance produce more breath hydrogen, pass flatus more frequently, and have a higher bloating score compared with healthy controls.