What carbohydrate type found in alliums causes gas and bloating for sensitive individuals through fermentation?
Fructans
The digestive discomfort associated with the Allium genus often stems from fructans, which are specific types of short-chain carbohydrates. These compounds fall under the broader classification of FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols). Fructans are known to be poorly absorbed in the small intestine. When they pass undigested into the large intestine, resident gut bacteria feed upon them, initiating fermentation. This natural bacterial activity produces gas, which manifests externally as symptoms like bloating, flatulence, and abdominal pain, particularly in individuals whose guts are hypersensitive, such as those diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This mechanism defines the reaction as an intolerance rather than an immune-based allergy.
