Eating fructose from fruit or as a common sweetener isn't inherently unhealthy. However, gastroenterologists from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) have identified that it can trigger severe abdominal pain in certain children.
Abdominal Pain in Kids
Children experiencing stomachaches after consuming these sweeteners likely have fructose malabsorption, often called fructose intolerance. Researchers confirmed this in a study of 245 children with ongoing abdominal pain, ruling out conditions like Crohn's disease or other serious intestinal disorders.
A simple breath test accurately diagnosed fructose intolerance. Strikingly, more than half of the patients tested positive. When these children followed a fructose-free diet, two-thirds saw their abdominal pain resolve completely.
Fructose Hides in Many Foods
For affected children, avoiding fructose can be challenging—it's naturally present in fruit and widely used as high-fructose corn syrup in U.S. processed foods and beverages.
