Carbohydrate malabsorption in anorexia nervosa: a systematic review

Abstract

Plain English summary People with anorexia nervosa (AN) may experience a preference for foods containing fewer calories but more carbohydrates, e.g. fruits and vegetables. The consequences of this food restriction and selection may include malabsorption of sugars such as fructose and lactose, the mechanism of which is incompletely understood. This may contribute to symptoms similar to those seen in people with lactose intolerance, e.g. bloating, and make it harder for people to eat recommended foods. This paper presents a comprehensive literature search for research on this topic. However, only two studies were identified which highlights that further investigation is needed to explore this clinically relevant field.

Keywords

• Anorexia nervosa
• Carbohydrate malabsorption
• Fructose malabsorption
• Lactose intolerance