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Roles of lactose and fructose malabsorption and dietary outcomes in children presenting with chronic abdominal pain
The aim of this 2019 study was to inspect children with chronic abdominal pain (CAP). The causal relationship between chronic abdominal pain and lactose or fructose intolerance has not been confirmed yet. The test subjects in this study were patients aged 7-12 years complaining of unexplained chronic abdominal pain. Of the 253 participants, 135 young patients undertook the fructose and lactose hydrogen breath tests and followed the elimination diet. These assessment methods were used to identify carbohydrate intolerance as a potential cause of chronic abdominal pain. Carbohydrate malabsorption was found in 55 (41%) out of 135 patients. Abnormal increases in hydrogen breath test scores were reported in 30% (35/118) of patients after fructose consumption and in 18% (20/114) of patients after lactose ingestion. During the diagnostic elimination diet, 46% reported an easing of pain. Based on the results of the elimination diet test, 17 patients were found to have lactose malabsorption, 29 had fructose malabsorption, and 9 had combined carbohydrate malabsorption. Moreover, carbohydrate intolerance as a cause of CAP was diagnosed at follow-up in 18% of patients with malabsorption. So carbohydrate malabsorption appears to be an incidental finding rather than a cause in children with functional abdominal pain disorders. It was concluded that only children strongly suspected to be intolerant of carbohydrates should be assessed for carbohydrate intolerance. The plan is to refrain from placing children with CAP on long-term and unnecessary restrictive diets. [NPID: lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, chronic abdominal pain, functional abdominal pain, elimination diet, hydrogen breath test, restrictive diet, carbohydrate malabsorption]
Year: 2019
