Abstract

Nine children with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency were assessed up to 10 years after diagnosis. All children continued to have episodes of diarrhoea associated with sucrose ingestion. Sucrose tolerance tests showed that malabsorption of sucrose persists into adolescence. Three older patients were unaware of their condition and were eating normal diets with unrestricted amounts of sucrose. They complained of gastrointestinal symptoms which improved after sucrose restriction.