Short-Chain Carbohydrates May Cause Chronic Bloating and Diarrhea

It was found out that certain short-chained carbohydrates can cause chronic diarrhea, abdominal bloating, gas or other gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals, diagnosed with:

• Dyspepsia (indigestion)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional bowel disease (FBD)…

…or aggravate symptoms of:

• Lactose intolerance
• Fructose malabsorption
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Celiac disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)
• Dumping syndrome (rapid gastric emptying)

These carbohydrates were named FODMAPs.

continue reading Low-FODMAP Diet – Foods to Avoid in IBS & Bloating

Amount of Fructose, Glucose, Sorbitol and Fructans in Foods

In the table below, foods that may cause diarrhea and bloating in person with fructose malabsorption (FM) , are listed.

Problematic foods in FM are those that: 

• are high in fructose
• are high in sorbitol
• have high fructose-to-glucose ratio (>1)
• are high in fructans or other FODMAPs (problematic only for some persons with FM)

continue reading Foods, High in Fructose, Sorbitol, Fructans and FODMAPs

What Is Fructose Malabsorption (FM)?

Human intestine can’t absorb unlimited amount of fructose, but most people can absorb 25-50 g of fructose per sitting (1). By definition, inability to absorb 25 g of fructose per sitting is considered as fructose malabsorption. Unabsorbed fructose may cause diarrhea and bloating.

Fructose malabsorption (FM) was previously known as ‘dietary fructose intolerance’ (DFI), but this term should be avoided to prevent confusion with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI).

continue reading Fructose Malabsorption – Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis