With over 30 years of gastroenterology leadership, Direct Endoscopy offers expert testing for fructose intolerance at our accredited Melbourne hospitals. Our specialist gastroenterologists use clinically validated breath tests to assess how your body processes fructose, enabling accurate diagnosis, personalised dietary guidance, and better digestive health management.
About the Procedure
What Is Fructose Intolerance Testing?
Fructose intolerance testing typically involves a hydrogen breath test, which measures levels of hydrogen (and sometimes methane) in the breath after ingesting a standard dose of fructose. Elevated levels can indicate that your digestive system is unable to properly absorb or process fructose, leading to symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or gas.
What to Expect
Preparation: You’ll receive detailed instructions prior to your appointment, including dietary restrictions and fasting requirements to ensure accurate results.
Baseline Breath Sample: A baseline breath sample is collected before consuming the test solution.
Fructose Ingestion: You’ll drink a solution containing a measured amount of fructose.
Sequential Breath Samples: Over the next 2-3 hours, breath samples will be taken at regular intervals to measure hydrogen/methane levels.
Observation & Analysis: The results are analysed by our specialists to determine whether fructose malabsorption or intolerance is present, and to what degree.
Follow-Up & Recommendations: Once results are processed, your gastroenterologist will review them with you and recommend dietary approaches, further testing, or treatment plans if necessary.
Book An Appointment
With over 30 years of experience and more than half a million endoscopic procedures performed, Direct Endoscopy is one of Melbourne’s most established providers of gastroenterology and digestive health services. Our specialist gastroenterologists lead the way in colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and capsule endoscopy, delivering accurate diagnosis and advanced treatment in fully accredited hospital settings.
We provide comprehensive care across all areas of digestive health, from bowel cancer prevention and liver disease management to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and beyond.
Specialist-Led. Patient-Focused.
Expert-Led Patient Care
With over 30 years of experience and more than half a million endoscopic procedures performed, Direct Endoscopy is one of Melbourne’s most established providers of gastroenterology and digestive health services. Our specialist gastroenterologists lead the way in colonoscopy, gastroscopy, and capsule endoscopy, delivering accurate diagnosis and advanced treatment in fully accredited hospital settings.
We provide comprehensive care across all areas of digestive health, from bowel cancer prevention and liver disease management to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and beyond.
01
What is fructose intolerance?
Fructose intolerance refers to the malabsorption or improper absorption of fructose in the body. Fructose is a type of sugar that is naturally found in fruit, honey, and a variety of vegetables.
02
How do I test for fructose intolerance?
A hydrogen breath test can identify whether you have fructose intolerance. Malabsorbed fructose causes your body to produce an excess of hydrogen, which can be detected in your breath. Before your hydrogen breath test, you’ll be given a small dose of fructose and then tested for levels of hydrogen in your breath.
03
What are the symptoms of fructose intolerance?
Those with fructose intolerance may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, gas, cramping, and diarrhoea. This happens because when fructose is unable to be absorbed (into the walls of the small intestine) it instead travels down to the large intestine where it ferments and releases gases. This in turn, causes symptoms similar to those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – i.e. bloating, abdominal pain, excessive gas, diarrhoea, and constipation.
04
What should I not eat if I have fructose intolerance?
Depending on the severity of your fructose intolerance, you may be advised not to eat certain foods that are high in fructose or significantly limit your intake of these foods. Avoid high fructose foods including:
- High fructose fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, watermelon and more.
- Fruit juices and sodas
- Honey
- Syrups and other sugars like molasses, coconut sugar, agave syrup, etc.
- High fructose vegetables such as peas, corn, asparagus, zucchini, etc.
For packaged foods or meals, you should always check the ingredients to ensure that it does not have a high percentage of fructose.
05
How common is fructose intolerance?
Fructose intolerance is quite common and is even grouped along with several other common food intolerances in FODMAPs. FODMAP is an abbreviation for groups of molecules found in food that many people cannot properly absorb or digest. These include:
- Fermentables
- Oligosaccharides (e.g. fructans)
- Disaccharides (e.g. lactose)
- Monosaccharides (e.g. fructose)
- Polyols (e.g. xylitol)
There are FODMAP diets designed for those suffering from fructose intolerance as well as a range of other food intolerances.