Fructose intolerance: Which foods should I avoid?

My daughter has fructose intolerance. Can you tell me which foods have fructose so that she can avoid them?

- Jo / Iowa

Answer

Fructose is a sugar found in fruit. It's also a basic component in table sugar (sucrose). In addition, sorbitol — a sugar alcohol — is converted to fructose during normal digestion. So if you have fructose intolerance, you should avoid foods that contain fructose and sucrose as well as sorbitol. These include:

• Fruit and fruit juices
• Meat products cured in sugar or breaded
• Sweetened milk or sweetened milk beverages
• Honey
• Maple syrup
• Corn syrup
• Table sugar (beet and cane)
• Confectioner's sugar

Some vegetables as well as some bread and cereal products also may contain fructose. Consult a registered dietitian for a complete list of foods your daughter should eat or avoid. The dietitian also can help create a healthy diet plan for your daughter to make sure she gets the nutrients she needs.

It is important to note that "fructose intolerance" is a general term that describes two possible conditions:

• Hereditary fructose intolerance, a rare genetic disorder. People with hereditary fructose intolerance lack an enzyme that breaks down fructose. This is a serious disorder that can lead to liver and kidney damage.
• Fructose malabsorption, a digestive disorder. People with fructose malabsorption have difficulty digesting fructose. This is a less serious disorder because it doesn't result in liver or kidney damage. But it can cause abdominal pain, nausea, bloating and diarrhea.

Either condition should be confirmed by a doctor using reliable testing methods.