Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Reif-Breitwieser, J.
Prevalence of trehalose malabsorption and trehalose intolerance in symptomatic patients of the Medical University Graz
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2018. pp. 65
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Baumann-Durchschein Franziska
- Hammer Heinz
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Introduction: Symptoms as bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea are often caused by malabsorption of lactose or fructose. Trehalose, a disaccharide occurring in mushrooms, seafood, baker’s and brewer’s yeast was approved as Novel Food and Food ingredient in the European Union in 2001 and is increasingly used in the food industry. Trehalose is metabolized by the trehalose specific disaccharidase trehalase. Reduced trehalase levels might result in malabsorptive symptoms. Only few studies concerning the prevalence of trehalase deficiency and malabsorption or intolerance of trehalose exist. According to literature trehalase deficiency occurs in 8 % of the population. To date no studies exist concerning the prevalence of trehalose malabsorption and intolerance in a symptomatic population. Materials and Methods: A mixture of 50 g trehalose and water was administered to thirty patients with the clinical suspicion of carbohydrate malabsorption (8 males, 22 females, median age 32 years, min.-max.: 20-72 years). Lactose malabsorption (LM) was documented in 8 patients (27 %), lactose intolerance (LIT) in 11 patients (37 %), combined malabsorption and intolerance of lactose (LM +LIT) in 6 patients (20 %), fructose malabsorption (FM) in 1 patient (3 %) and fructose intolerance (FIT) in 3 patients (10 %). There was no patient with combined malabsorption and intolerance of fructose (FM + FIT). End-expiratory breath hydrogen was measured using hydrogen breath test and symptoms were documented on a scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 5 (most severe symptoms). Trehalose malabsorption (TM) was defined by an increase of H2 = 20 parts per million (ppm) over basal hydrogen levels, trehalose intolerance (TIT) was defined by an increase in symptoms = 2. Results: Trehalose malabsorption, defined by an increase in hydrogen = 20 parts per million (ppm) was diagnosed in 9 patients (30 %). Trehalose intolerance, defined by an increase in symptoms = 2 was diagnosed in 9 patients (30%). Referring to lactose- and fructose malabsorption no relation between trehalose malabsorption and either of these conditions could be observed. Equally no relation between trehalose intolerance and intolerance of lactose or fructose could be demonstrated. In addition no correlation between a history of mushroom intolerance and malabsorption or intolerance of trehalose could be observed. Discussion: It can be concluded that 30 % of patients with symptoms suggestive of carbohydrate intolerance suffer of trehalose malabsorption and 30 % of patients suffer of trehalose intolerance. No significant correlation between malabsorption and intolerance of trehalose and malabsorption or intolerance of lactose or/and fructose or a history of mushroom intolerance could be observed. In consideration of the high prevalence of trehalose malabsorption and intolerance the addition of trehalose to foods has to be declared more accurate.