Abstract
Sorbitol is a poorly absorbed monosaccharide widely used as a sweetener for dietetic foods and as a drug vehicle. Ingestion of sorbitol can lead to gastrointestinal complaints such as cramps and diarrhea. Two patients in whom unrecognized sorbitol ingestion produced symptoms which mimicked an exacerbation of another underlying disorder are presented. The diagnosis of sorbitol induced symptoms may be missed or delayed because patients do not appreciate that they are ingesting the compound in 'sugarless foods', and drug product information may not list its inclusion as a sweetener.
Highlights
Sorbitol is a poorly absorbed monosaccharide widely used as a sweetener for dietetic foods and as a drug vehicle. lngestion of sorbitol can lead to gastrointestinal complaints such as cramps and diarrhea
Varying dose~ of sorbitol on healthy adult volunteers and demonstrated that the ingestion ofeven small amounts can lead to functional complaints such as cramps and bloating without diarrhea
CASE ONE In March 1987, an 18-ycar-old fema le with an eight-year history ofCroh n 'sdis· ease was admitted to hospital with a fourday history of severe colicky lower abdominal pain. nausea and decreased con· sistency of ileostomy ou tpu c. llcal Crohn's disease had been diagnosed at laparot· omy in 1979 and che subsequent clinical course had been one of chronic smoldering disease with acute exacerbations. ln 1984, recurrent bouts of intestinal obstruction required resection of a 55 cm strictured segment of jejunum
Summary
Sorbitol is a poorly absorbed monosaccharide widely used as a sweetener for dietetic foods and as a drug vehicle. lngestion of sorbitol can lead to gastrointestinal complaints such as cramps and diarrhea. It b a monosaccharide which i~ poorly absorbed from the intestine and ingestion can induce an osmotic diarrhea. Varying dose~ of sorbitol on healthy adult volunteers and demonstrated that the ingestion ofeven small amounts can lead to functional complaints such as cramps and bloating without diarrhea.
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