DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION OF FRUIT JUICE CARBOHYDRATES

As consumption of dietary fructose and sorbitol increases, the associa tion between consumption of these sugars and gastrointestinal symptoms has been recognized. As a result, studies of fructose and sorbitol ab sorption and malabsorption have emerged with investigations relying la rgely on the use of breath hydrogen (H-2) measurements. Since these su gars are prevalent in fruit juices, a major dietary staple in the firs t 5 years of life, an understanding of fructose and sorbitol absorptio n is particularly important to pediatric health care providers. This r eview examines fructose and sorbitol absorption in humans, reviewing a s well the breath H, method upon which studies of fructose and sorbito l absorption largely depend.