Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: sucrose and fructose intolerance

Sucrose is unsafe for hereditary fructose intolerance that is a serious genetic disorder which requires the restriction of all source of fructose.

Fructose malabsorption is a different disorder. In this disorder when fructose and glucose occur in precisely equal amounts such as sucrose the body absorbs both sugars with no difficulty. When fructose occurs in excess of glucose the body handles the excess fructose differently and it is usually absorbed in the small intestine. Some people cannot absorb the excess fructose. It is malabsorbed and passes through to the colon where it is rapidly fermented by bacteria producing gas and byproducts. In some people the excess fructose may act as an osmotic laxative producing D.

There is a lot of misinformation about this point on the Web. This point is explained well by the dietitian that wrote the article in the first link in my signature.

If you want a detailed description of the physiological process have a look at Malabsorption of Fructose and Other Short-chain Carbohydrates. In particular, read the section were it says "Because of this, the fructose released from the hydrolysis [breakdown] of sucrose is generally completely absorbed." In otherwords, in moderation white/brown sugar is not a problem for individuals with fructose malabsorption.

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