Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology - Hereditary Fructose Intolerance and Mutagenesis Agents

NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Name
Institution

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NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
This paper responds to the short questions that deal with the hereditary fructose
intolerance and the mutagenesis agent. The first part covers the short questions of the hereditary
fructose intolerance. The second part deals with the questions of the mutagenesis agents.
1) HFI is a condition where the body fails to produce the chemical needed in the
metabolism of fructose in the liver. The body normally absorbs fructose that is in the intestine. In
the liver, there is lack of enzyme classification code EC 2.1.2.13 that is the main enzyme useful
in the metabolism of fruit sugar. 7 Ingested fructose is then transformed to fruit sugar-1-
phosphate. After that, it is converted to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate through metabolism.
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is the energy-producing element in the body. 3
The entry of the carbon atoms of fructose into the pathway of glycolytic that are in the
kidney, small intestine and hepatocytes is defined below.

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An absence of this enzyme causes fructose-1-phosphate to accumulate in the kidney,
small intestine, and liver. The accumulation of fructose-1-phosphate prevents the breakdown of
glycogen and the synthesis of glucose, thus causing hypoglycaemia after absorption of fructose.
The condition of Hypoglycemia occurs typically to those who have diabetes, and it’s
accompanied by the presence of low blood sugar in the body. Other symptoms include the
following: vomiting after ingestion of fructose and increase pain in the abdominal.6
2) HFI is a generic growth disorder that inhibits an individual from digesting fructose (a
form of sugar usually found in honey, fruits). The condition begins in infancy, and any
consumption of fructose causes nausea, abdominal pain, low blood sugar, as well as vomiting.
The disorder is caused by the imperfect mutation of the gene that is found on chromosome 9.
HIF condition takes place when the body lack aldolase B in the body.
The enzyme is responsible for breaking down fructose. If an individual without the
aldolase B enzymes consumes sucrose or fructose (table sugar, beet sugar or Cane), complex
chemical changes happen in the body. This prevents the body from converting glycogen into
sugar. This enables concentration of dangerous substances in the liver, and the level of blood
sugar also falls in the body. HFI is inherited, and this means that it can be transmitted through
families.4
HFI has identified 35years ago; however fatal cases of the disease continue to occur in
Australia. In the recent years, occurrences of fructose poisoning and HFI death have been
reported in Australia.
Symptoms
1) Damage in the liver including enlarge liver, jaundice and chronic liver disease, 2)
There is poor feeding problem in the baby, 3) Initial sign is nausea, vomiting, swollen abdomen,