A mathematical analysis of adaptations to the metabolic fate of fructose in essential fructosuria subjects

Fructose is a major component of Western diets and is implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In response to an oral challenge, the majority of fructose is cleared during "first-pass" liver metabolism, primarily via phosphorylation by ketohexokinase (KHK). A rare benign genetic deficiency in KHK, called essential fructosuria (EF), leads to altered fructose metabolism. The only reported symptom of EF is the appearance of fructose in the urine following either oral or intravenous fructose administration. Here we develop and use a mathematical model to investigate the adaptations to altered fructose metabolism in people with EF. First, the model is calibrated to fit available data in normal healthy subjects. Then, to mathematically represent EF subjects, we systematically implement metabolic adaptations such that model simulations match available data for this phenotype. We hypothesize that these modifications represent the major metabolic adaptations present in these subjects. This modeling approach suggests that several other aspects of fructose metabolism, beyond hepatic KHK deficiency, are altered and contribute to the etiology of this benign condition. Specifically, we predict that fructose absorption into the portal vein is altered, peripheral metabolism is slowed, renal reabsorption of fructose is mostly ablated, and alternate pathways for hepatic metabolism of fructose are upregulated. Moreover, these findings have implications for drug discovery and development, suggesting that the therapeutic targeting of fructose metabolism could lead to unexpected metabolic adaptations, potentially due to a physiological response to high-fructose conditions.

Ketohexokinase knockout mice, a model for essential fructosuria, exhibit altered fructose metabolism and are protected from diet-induced metabolic defects

Fructose consumption in humans and animals has been linked to enhanced de novo lipogenesis, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Hereditary deficiency of ketohexokinase (KHK), the first enzymatic step in fructose metabolism, leads to essential fructosuria in humans, characterized by elevated levels of blood and urinary fructose following fructose ingestion but is otherwise clinically benign. To address whether KHK deficiency is associated with altered glucose and lipid metabolism, a Khk knockout (KO) mouse line was generated and characterized. NMR spectroscopic analysis of plasma following ingestion of [6-¹³C] fructose revealed striking differences in biomarkers of fructose metabolism. Significantly elevated urine and plasma ¹³C-fructose levels were observed in Khk KO vs. wild-type (WT) control mice, as was reduced conversion of ¹³C-fructose into plasma ¹³C-glucose and ¹³C-lactate. In addition, the observation of significant levels of fructose-6-phosphate in skeletal muscle tissue of Khk KO, but not WT, mice suggests a potential mechanism, whereby fructose is metabolized via muscle hexokinase in the absence of KHK. Khk KO mice on a standard chow diet displayed no metabolic abnormalities with respect to ambient glucose, glucose tolerance, body weight, food intake, and circulating trigylcerides, β-hydroxybutyrate, and lactate. When placed on a high-fat and high-fructose (HF/HFruc) diet, Khk KO mice had markedly reduced liver weight, triglyceride levels, and insulin levels. Together, these results suggest that Khk KO mice may serve as a good model for essential fructosuria in humans and that inhibition of KHK offers the potential to protect from diet-induced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance.

Lactose and fructose malabsorption in children with recurrent abdominal pain: results of double-blinded testing

AIM

To investigate malabsorption of lactose and fructose as causes of recurrent abdominal pain (RAP).

METHODS

In 220 children (128 girls, mean age 8,8 [4.1-16.0] years) with RAP, hydrogen breath tests (H(2) BT; abnormal if ΔH(2) > 30 ppm) were performed with lactose and fructose. Disappearance of RAP with elimination, recurrence with provocation and disappearance with re-elimination, followed by a 6-month pain-free follow-up, were considered indicative of a causal relation with RAP. For definite proof, a double-blinded placebo-controlled (DBPC) provocation was performed.

RESULTS

Malabsorption of lactose was found in 57 of 210, of fructose in 79 of 121 patients. Pain disappeared upon elimination in 24/38 patients with lactose malabsorption, and in 32/49 with fructose malabsorption. Open provocation with lactose and fructose was positive in 7/23 and 13/31 patients. DBPC provocation in 6/7 and 8/13 patients was negative in all. However, several children continued to report abdominal symptoms upon intake of milk or fructose.

CONCLUSION

Lactose intolerance nor fructose intolerance could be established as causes of RAP, according to preset criteria including elimination, open provocation and DBPC provocation. However, in clinical practice, persistent feeling of intolerance in some patients should be taken seriously and could warrant extended elimination with repeated challenges.

Changes of liver metabolite concentrations in adults with disorders of fructose metabolism after intravenous fructose by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy

A novel 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy procedure allows the estimation of absolute concentrations of certain phosphorus-containing compounds in liver. We have validated this approach by measuring ATP, phosphomonesters, and inorganic phosphate (Pi) during fasting and after an i.v. fructose bolus in healthy adults and in three adults with disorders of fructose metabolism and by comparing results with known metabolic concentrations measured chemically. During fasting, the ATP concentration averaged 2.7 +/- 0.3 (SD, n = 9) mmol/L, which, after due correction for other nucleoside triphosphates, was 2.1 mmol/L and corresponded well with known concentrations. Fructose-1-phosphate (F-1-P) could not be measured during fasting; its concentration after fructose was calculated from the difference of the phosphomonester signals before (2.9 +/- 0.2 mmol/L) and after fructose. Pi was 1.4 +/- 0.3 mmol/L and represented the one fourth of Pi visible in magnetic resonance spectra. In the three healthy controls after fructose (200 mg/kg, 20% solution, 2.5 min), the fructokinase-mediated increase of F-1-P was rapid, reaching 4.9 mmol/L within 3 min, whereas the uncorrected ATP decreased from 2.7 to 1.8 mmol/L and the Pi from 1.4 to 0.3 mmol/L. The subsequent decrease of F-1-P, mediated by fructaldolase, was accompanied by an overshooting rise of Pi to 2.7 mmol/L. In the patient with essential fructosuria, the concentrations of F-1-P, ATP, and Pi remained unchanged, confirming that fructokinase was indeed inactive. In the patient with hereditary fructose intolerance, initial metabolic changes were the same as in the controls, but baseline concentrations were not yet reestablished after 7 h, indicating weak fructaldolase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inborn errors of fructose metabolism

A review is presented of genetic defects affecting fructose metabolism in humans. Presently, six conditions have been recognized: fructose malabsorption, fructokinase deficiency, aldolase A and aldolase B deficiency, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase deficiency and D-glyceric aciduria. Clinical presentations of these conditions, enzymatic and/or molecular defects, pathophysiological consequences, and modes of treatments are discussed.

[Fructose metabolism disorders and infusions]

The authors give an account of views regarding the use of non-glucose energy sources in parenteral nutrition during the immediate post-load period/serious operations, severe injuries). Attention is devoted to the metabolic pathway of fructose and its disorders. In hereditary fructose intolerance an infusion of D-fructose or D-glucitol (= sorbitol) can induce life threatening hypoglycaemia (unless glucose is administered concurrently). According to some views, in subjects with this intolerance the organism is threatened also by hepatic and renal failure; their development may be independent on hypoglycaemia. Fructose and D-glucitol (sorbitol) therefore should not be administered by the parenteral route. This view is supported by cases where hereditary fructose intolerance could not be revealed from the case-history and clinical manifestations. Some countries have already eliminated fructose and D-glucitol (sorbitol) from their pharmacopoeias.

Inherited disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in children studied by 13C-labelled precursors, NMR and GC-MS

Glucose carbon recycling, glucose production and glucose turnover in glycogen storage disease type I and type II patients and control subjects were determined by a novel approach--mass isotopomer analysis of plasma 13C glucose. Changes in the isotopomer distribution of plasma 13C glucose were found only in glycogen storage disease type III patients and control subjects. Glucose carbon recycling parameters were also derived from 13C NMR spectra of plasma glucose C-1 splitting pattern. Our results eliminate a mechanism for glucose production in glycogen storage disease type I children involving gluconeogenesis. However, glucose release by amylo-1,6-glucosidase activity is in agreement with our results. A quantitative determination of the metabolic pathways of fructose conversion to glucose in normal children, and in children with disorders of fructose metabolism was derived from 13C NMR measurement of plasma 13C glucose isotopomer populations following [U-13C]fructose administration. A direct pathway from fructose, bypassing fructose-1-phosphate aldolase, to fructose-1,6-diphosphate in controls and hereditary fructose intolerant children (47% and 27%, respectively) was identified. In children with fructose-1,6-diphosphatase deficiency, only the gluconeogenic substrates were 13C labelled but no synthesis of glucose from [U-13C]fructose occurred. The significantly lower (by 68%) conversion of fructose to glucose in hereditary fructose intolerance, as compared to control subjects, and non-conversion in fructose-1,6-diphosphatase deficient subjects after [U-13C]fructose (approximately 20 mg/kg) administration can serve as the basis of a safe diagnostic test for patients suspected of inborn errors of fructose metabolism and other defects involving gluconeogenesis.

Severe acidosis in a neonate with pulmonary valve stenosis: a possible stress inducer of a fatal syndrome of fructose-1, 6-biphosphatase and aldolase deficiency

A neonate is described whose clinical condition rapidly and irreversibly deteriorated on day two. He developed a profound acidosis, hypoglycaemia and a shock-like syndrome. The infant was centrally cyanosed and had a systolic murmur from a moderately severe pulmonary valve stenosis and a small atrial septal defect. The overwhelming acidosis was inconsistent with the severity of the congenital heart defects and as no infection was found a metabolic cause was sought. Liver tissue obtained at autopsy shortly after death on day four, showed deficiencies of fructose-1, 6-biphosphatase and aldolase.