National Sucrose Intolerance Week highlights little-known genetic condition

Patients who experience gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea after consuming sugary foods and drinks could have a genetic condition called genetic sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, which prevents them from properly digesting common table sugar.

Hence, QOL Medical announced it has designated April 2-8 National Sucrose Intolerance week to raise awareness about this somewhat unknown condition.

Genetic sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (GSID), is spurred by genetic changes that lower the digestive activity of sucrase-isomaltase, an enzyme in the small intestine that helps in the digestion of sucrose and starches found in foods.

Symptoms of GSID include abdominal pain, gas, bloating and diarrhea, and can affect anyone from young children to adults. It can also cause complications in infants, including colic, dehydration, malnutrition and failure to thrive.

“The symptoms of GSID are similar to other, more common, GI conditions, making it easy to misdiagnose,” Derick Cooper, CEO of QOL Medical, said in the press release. “We established National Sucrose Intolerance Week to raise awareness among patients and the medical community to encourage people to discuss the common symptoms of GSID with their doctor to explore whether diagnostic testing may be warranted.”

There is currently no cure for the condition, but there are therapies available that can help to minimize the symptoms of GSID, according to the press release.

Reference:

https://www.sucroseintoleranceawareness.org/

Disclosures: Cooper is employed by QOL Medical.