The Effect of Sucrose Malabsorption on the Growth Pattern in Children

Abstract

The clinical significance of sucrose malabsorption in 7 children (5 Danish, 2 Greenlandic) is discussed. The principal symptom was chronic, watery diarrhea, but meteorism and crying spells were frequent symptoms. The attacks of diarrhea started at the time sucrose was introduced into the diet. Treatment with a diet poor in sucrose led to immediate relief of all symptoms. Charts of the growth pattern were drawn up in 5 cases, and they showed a relative increase in weight and length as a result of dietetic treatment, although the values for both length and weight were within the normal range when treatment was commenced.

Key-words:

• Children
• diarrhea
• growth pattern
• sucrase
• sucrose malabsorption