"With fructose in so many foods, ranging from apples to packaged foods with the widespread use of high fructose corn syrup, it is difficult to avoid, so the challenge is finding those foods with low fructose and still maintain a healthy nutritional balance that patients will adhere to," said Dr. Lustig, "especially teenagers." He said fructose intolerance is seems to be more prevalent in teenage girls with chronic abdominal pain. In his practice, Dr. Lustig said he typically sees three or four teenage girls a week with either a new diagnosis of fructose intolerance or for followup.

"But the good news is that over half of patients who are fructose intolerant and are able to maintain a lowfructose diet will notice an immediate improvement in their symptoms," concluded Dr. Lustig.

Source: American College of Gastroenterology