Fructose Intolerance: Complications

The following are the most important diseases or complications that can be caused by hereditary fructose intolerance:

Blood, blood-forming organs – Immune system (D50-D90).

  • Coagulation disorders, unspecified

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disorders (E00-E90).

  • De Toni-Fanconi syndrome (synonyms: De Toni-Fanconi complex, glucose-amino acid diabetes) – inherited dysfunction of the energy balance of the proximal tubule cells of the kidney, leading to renal dysfunction and other symptoms: Glucose (dextrose), phosphate and amino acids are reabsorbed to an insufficient extent, causing disturbances in electrolyte balance and pH.
  • Metabolic derailment with acidosis (hyperacidity) and hypoglycemia (hypoglycemia).

Liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts-pancreas (pancreas) (K70-K77; K80-K87).

  • Acute liver failure
  • Liver cirrhosis (liver shrinkage) – liver dysfunction caused by connective tissue remodeling.

Mouth, esophagus (esophagus), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

  • Disturbance of consciousness until coma

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

  • Anorexia (loss of appetite).
  • Ascites (abdominal dropsy)
  • Failure to thrive / growth retardation
  • Icterus (jaundice), unspecified
  • Edema (water retention in the tissues), unspecified
  • Shock

Genitourinary system (kidneys, urinary tract – reproductive organs) (N00-N99)

  • Acute renal failure (ANV)
  • Renal insufficiency (kidney weakness)

The following are the main diseases or complications that may be co-morbid due to fructose malabsorption:

Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).

  • Folic acid deficiency
  • Vitamin deficiencies, unspecified
  • Zinc deficiency

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

  • Depression

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Other

  • Increased susceptibility to infection due to lack of vitamin C by avoiding fruits/vegetables rich in fructose.
  • Inner restlessness
  • Irritability

The following are the most important diseases or complications that can be co-conditioned by essential fructosuria:

No information Fructose intolerance patients with watery diarrhea (diarrhea) – Vital substance deficiency (micronutrients).

Vital substance (micronutrients) Deficiency symptoms
Vitamin C Weakness of blood vessels leads to

  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Mucosal bleeding
  • Hemorrhage into the muscles associated with weakness in heavily used muscles
  • Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
  • Joint stiffness and pain
  • Poor wound healing

Carnitine deficit leads to

  • Symptoms of exhaustion, fatigue, indifference, irritability, depression.
  • Increased need for sleep, decreased performance.
  • Weakness of the immune system with increased risk of infection
  • Decreased oxidation protection increases the risk of heart disease, apoplexy (stroke)

Deficiency symptoms in children

  • Weakened immune system
  • Recurrent infections of the respiratory tract, urinary bladder, and the auditory tube, which is connected to the nasopharynx via the tympanic cavity of the middle ear

Increased risk of vitamin C deficiency disease – Möller-Barlow disease in infancy with symptoms such as.

  • Hematomas (bruises)
  • Pathological fractures associated with severe pain
  • Wincing after every slightest touch – “jumping jack phenomenon”.
  • Stagnation of growth
B vitamins, such as vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6. Disorders in the central and peripheral nervous system leads to.

  • Nerve disease in the extremities, pain or numbness of the extremities.
  • Muscle pain, wasting or weakness, involuntary muscle twitching
  • Hyperexcitability of the heart muscle and increase in heart rate (tachycardia); decrease in cardiac output (HMV).
  • Memory loss
  • General state of weakness
  • Impaired collagen synthesis resulting in poor wound healing
  • Insomnia, nervous disorders, sensory disturbances.
  • Impaired leukocyte (white blood cell) response to inflammation.
  • Anemia (anemia) due to decreased production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (erythrocytopenia; leukocytopenia; thrombocytopenia)
  • Decreased production of antibodies
  • Impairment of cellular and humoral immune defenses.
  • States of confusion, headaches
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, stomach pain, vomiting, nausea (nausea).

Deficiency symptoms in children

  • Disorders of protein biosynthesis and cell division.
  • Disorders of the central nervous system
  • Beriberi – disturbance of nervous function and cardiac insufficiency.
  • Skeletal muscle atrophy
  • Increased risk of cardiac dysfunction and failure
Folic acid Mucosal changes in the mouth, intestines, and urogenital tract lead to

  • Indigestion – diarrhea
  • Reduced absorption of nutrients and vital substances (macro and micronutrients).
  • Weight loss

Blood count disorders

  • Anemia (anemia) leads to rapid fatigue, shortness of breath, decreased ability to concentrate, general weakness.

Impaired formation of white blood cells (leukocytes) leads to.

  • Reduction of the immune response to infections.
  • Decreased antibody formation
  • Risk of bleeding due to decreased production of platelets (thrombocytes).

Elevated homocysteine levels increase the risk for

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Coronary heart disease CHD)

Neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as.

  • Memory impairment
  • Depression
  • Aggressiveness
  • Irritability

Deficiency symptoms in children Disturbances in DNA synthesis – limited replication – and decreased cell proliferation increase the risk for

  • Malformations, developmental disorders
  • Growth retardation
  • Maturation disorders of the central nervous system.
  • Bone marrow alteration
  • Deficiency of white blood cells (leukocytopenia) as well as platelets (thrombocytopenia).
  • Anemia (anemia)
  • Injuries to the mucosa of the small intestine
  • Disorders of protein biosynthesis and cell division
Vitamin B12
  • Decreased vision and blind spots
  • Functional folic acid deficiency
  • Weakened antioxidant protective system

Blood count

  • Anemia reduces the ability to concentrate, leads to fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath.
  • Reduction of red blood cells, larger than average and rich in hemoglobin (megaloblastic anemia).
  • Impaired growth of white blood cells weakens the immune system
  • Risk of bleeding due to reduced production of platelets.

Gastrointestinal tract

  • Atrophy (tissue atrophy) and inflammation of the mucous membranes.
  • Rough, burning tongue
  • Reduced absorption of nutrients and vital substances (macro- and micronutrients).
  • Anorexia, weight loss

Neurological disorders

  • Numbness and tingling of extremities, loss of sensation of touch, vibration and pain.
  • Poor coordination of the muscles, muscle atrophy.
  • Unsteady gait
  • Spinal cord damage

Psychiatric disorders

  • Memory disorders, confusion, depression
  • Aggressiveness, agitation, psychosis
Calcium Demineralization of the skeletal system increases the risk of

  • Decreased bone density
  • Osteoporosis, especially in women with estrogen deficiency.
  • Osteomalacia – bone softening as well as bone deformities.
  • Tendency to stress fractures of the skeletal system.
  • Muscle cramps, tendency to spasm, increased muscle contraction.
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Blood clotting disorders with increased bleeding tendency
  • Increased excitability of the nervous system, depression.

Increased risk of

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Deficiency symptoms in children

  • Impaired development of bones and teeth
  • Decreased bone density in the newborn
  • Formation of rickets – decreased mineralization of bones with tendency to spontaneous fractures and bone bending.

Symptoms of rickets

  • Disturbances in the longitudinal growth of bones
  • Deformed skeleton – skull, spine, legs.
  • Atypical heart-shaped pelvis
  • Delayed retention of deciduous teeth, jaw deformity, malocclusion of teeth.

Additional vitamin D deficiency leads to

  • Hyperparathyroidism (hyperparathyroidism) – enlarged parathyroid tissue and increased production of parathyroid hormones.
  • Hypercalcemic coma
Magnesium Increased excitability of muscles and nerves leads to

  • Insomnia, difficulty concentrating
  • Muscle and vascular spasms
  • Numbness as well as tingling in the extremities.
  • Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) and other cardiac arrhythmias, feeling of anxiety.

Increased risk of

  • Decreased immune response
  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Acute hearing loss

Deficiency symptoms in children

  • Growth retardation
  • Hyperactivity
  • Insomnia, difficulty concentrating
  • Muscle tremors, cramps
  • Heart palpitations and arrhythmias
  • Decreased immune response
Potassium
Chloride
  • Acid-base balance disorders
  • Development of metabolic alkalosis
  • Severe vomiting with high salt losses
Zinc
  • Disturbances in the functioning of the immune system
  • Inhibition of cellular defense leads to increased susceptibility to infection
  • Wound healing disorders and mucosal changes, as zinc is required for connective tissue synthesis
  • Increased keratinization tendency
  • Acne-like symptoms
  • Blood clotting disorders, chronic anemia (anemia).
  • Reduction of the sense of smell and taste, reduction of vision, night blindness, sensorineural hearing loss.
  • Depression, psychosis, schizophrenia.

Metabolic disorders, such as.

  • Weight loss despite increased food intake
  • Failure of beta cells in the pancreas – high risk of developing adult-onset diabetes (type 2 diabetes mellitus)

Instead of zinc, the toxic cadmium is integrated into the biological processes, which leads to

  • Inflammatory changes in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
  • Cough, headache, fever
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, cramping pain in the abdominal regions.
  • Renal dysfunction and increased protein excretion.
  • Osteoporosis, osteomalacia

Leads deficiency symptoms in children: Low concentrations of zinc in plasma and white blood cells (leukocytes) cause.

  • Malformations and deformities especially of the central nervous system.
  • Growth disorders and retardation with delayed sexual development.
  • Skin changes in the extremities – hands, feet, nose, chin and ear – and natural orifices.
  • Wound healing disorders
  • Hair loss
  • Acute and chronic infections
  • Hyperactivity and learning disability