Investigating the variability of fructose absorption in the New Zealand population

Abstract

Introduction: Fructose exists in the form of free fructose, sucrose and oligosaccharides in the diet. It is the sweetest natural sugar found in whole foods like honey and fruits. Although the fructose metabolism is complicated and still unclear, it is suggested that inducing de novo lipogenesis (DNL) would be activated in high fructose consumption, which could alter the blood metabolite, and induce chronic metabolic disease in the long term. While fructose malabsorption, a physiological disability in completely absorbing fructose, is common; it is suggested to be a protective mechanism from overconsumption of fructose. Aim: To investigate the variations in fructose absorption in New Zealand adults via detecting the gastrointestinal gas production, and assessing the blood glucose response, and symptomatic discomfort during the breath test. Results were then correlated with the body composition, age, gender, and dietary fructose consumption. Method: A 35g fructose solution was used as an intervention. In the pilot study, eight healthy adults took a hydrogen breath test on three occasions. Breath samples were taken every 15 minutes, up to two hours. In the full trial, twenty-six healthy adults completed a once-off hydrogen breath test with breath sampling every 30 minutes, up to two hours, and blood sampling at baseline, 30, 60 and 120 minutes. Methane testing was only taken in the breath samples which did not give a rise in hydrogen content. Results and Discussion: Half of the participants (13/26) produced hydrogen breath. No methane gas was produced in the remaining half of the hydrogen non-producers. A greater intensity of symptomatic discomfort was observed in hydrogen producers. A weak impact in fructose malabsorption was observed in the correlation with gender and age. No difference was found in the fructose absorption rate with blood glucose response, body anthropometry, and dietary fructose consumption. A suggested self-management of behaviours was observed in fructose malabsorbers and resulted in a reduction in fructose consumption, and the palate preference for fructose taste. Conclusion: The findings suggest a hydrogen breath test at 30-minute intervals is reproducible and validated in detecting fructose malabsorption. A stronger relationship between anthropometry and postprandial response maybe produced with an increased sample in population size with a diversity of age, gender and body size.