The potential therapeutic roles of quercetin and luteolin in hereditary fructose intolerance

Abstract

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a genetic condition caused by a deficiency in the aldolase B enzyme. Patients with HFI are sensitive to fructose, and exposure to fructose can cause symptoms ranging from nausea to death. Treatment of HFI is currently limited to dietary restriction of fructose intake. However, emerging evidence indicates that dietary restriction is insufficient to fully protect patients from the adverse consequences of HFI. Despite strict dietary adherence, patients with HFI are more likely than the general population to develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and insulin resistance. This review proposes and examines evidence supporting the hypothesis that quercetin and luteolin, two inexpensive and widely available supplements, may mitigate the sequelae of HFI by inhibiting gastrointestinal fructose uptake and inhibiting endogenous fructose production. It further explores the additional hypothesis that quercetin and luteolin may mitigate the harms associated with a high-fructose diet in the general, fructose-tolerant populace.