Medical-Hypotheses: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that may be marked by
abdominal pain, bloating, fullness, indigestion, belching, constipation
and/or diarrhea. IBS symptoms can result from malabsorption of fructose.
Fructose is a monosaccharide found naturally in small quantities in
fruits and some vegetables, and in much larger quantities in
industrially manufactured sweeteners and added sugars (e.g. sucrose and
high fructose corn syrup). Fructose malabsorption leads to osmotic
diarrhea as well as gas and bloating due to fermentation in the colon. A
low-fructose diet has been found to improve IBS symptoms in some
patients. Fructose ingestion is a possible cause of, and possible
dietary treatment strategy for, IBS.
