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[colormist]

Gretchen mentioned that she saw FI mentioned in an Ann Landers column, so I did my usual super-sleuthing and found the article(s).

www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/annies-mailbox/annie-s-mailbox-r-2007-06-06.html
www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/annies-mailbox/annie-s-mailbox-r-2007-08-08.html

Because I know there are lazy people like me that don't like to search on webpages for stuff, I'll copy the content here:

June 6th
Dear Annie: My 8-year-old granddaughter was just diagnosed with "fructose intolerance," and it's a nightmare trying to figure out what she can eat.
A majority of foods have fructose, sucrose or sorbital, and she can't tolerate any of them. She can have some vegetables, white milk and meat. We did find a French bread she can eat, but she can't have a cookie, pancake or piece of fruit. Even ketchup and some yogurts are full of fructose.

Recipes and sources for specialty foods are nonexistent. She's a very tiny child and extremely thin. I was hoping maybe one of your readers would know of a support group. — Michigan Grandmother

Dear Michigan: You might find useful ideas in cookbooks for diabetics, and here are two online resources for recipes and support: Boston University Biology Department at www.bu.edu/aldolase and The Food Intolerant Consumer at www.foodintol.com. If our readers have other suggestions, we'll print them.

And then, a few days ago, a lot of people respond with help, including a mysterious person with the initials K.G.... hmmm...

Dear Annie: My mother-in-law read the column from "Michigan Grandmother," whose granddaughter was diagnosed with fructose intolerance. When our daughter was 3 months old, she had some constipation, and the pediatrician recommended corn syrup be added to her formula to stimulate her system. The corn syrup threw her into liver and kidney failure. The wonderful doctors at the Cleveland Clinic discovered she had Hereditary Fructose Intolerance and saved her life.

There is a lot of cooking involved with this type of diet, but it can easily be managed. That grandmother can find a wealth of information regarding recipes, eating out, etc., at www.hfiinfo.proboards42.com. As with any information, you should always check with your own doctor before following any dietary advice.

My daughter is now 3 and doing great. She's a beautiful, smart ball of fire. — K.G.

Dear K.G.: Thanks so much for the useful information. Our readers were eager to help "Michigan Grandma" and offered a plethora of websites. Read on:

From Iowa: I was diagnosed with Dietary Fructose Intolerance in 2005 and had to learn a new way of eating, but it freed me from being almost house-bound with intestinal problems. There are two types: "Dietary" and "Hereditary" Fructose Intolerance, the latter causing many more problems. The University of Iowa Medical Center (where I was diagnosed) has good information at: www.tiny.cc/fructose. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has a publication online entitled "Sugar Content in Selected Foods," which is available through the search box at www.fnic.nal.usda.gov.

Wisconsin: We have a daughter who is allergic to eggs, and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (foodallergy.org) has been very helpful. It's $30 for a one-year membership and well worth it.

Boston: I found my local natural food stores or boutique markets to be incredibly helpful (the staff is familiar with different dietary needs), and foods marked "natural" at regular grocery stores often do not contain added fructose or sucrose.

Illinois: The best website I've found is kidswithfoodallergies.org. The support forums there are filled with information on recipes, negotiating with insurance companies, picking a great doctor, explaining diet restrictions to family members, schools, day care centers and so on. It has been a lifeline for my family.

[julienc]

Colormist, thanks for your sleuthing! Interesting read. I imagine this board may get some more activity with that kind of advertising.

[sarahk]

Mike here--that is strange--and you and your brother are both lucky-cavities are sometimes a genetic thing-some get them so don't.

Sarah's dad (and uncle) are both dentists. Having HFI should have a negative impact on your teeth.

Here's why: Sarah has basically worn the tooth enamel off her teeth. There are two good reasons for this: 1) years of throwing-up--the acidity deteriorates the tooth enamel. This is also seen in people with bulimia.

2) SweetTarts, Smarties, pixie sticks--lemons....all destroy tooth enamel. Sarah uncle is a children's' dentist and has noticed that kids who eat those candies have worn their enamel.