| Galactose is one of the 8 saccharides | | | | occurs when there is too much Glactose |
| known as Glyconutrients. They are vital | | | | in the body. This is caused by a liver |
| nutrients to the body and are: | | | | enzyme deficiency. It is very important |
| ? Mannose | | | | to diagnose this metabolic disorder |
| ? Glucose | | | | early so that life long problems do not |
| ? Galactose | | | | occur. This is a hereditary disease. It |
| ? Xylose | | | | can only occur if one or both parents |
| ? Fucose (not fructose) | | | | have this disorder. The disease will |
| ? N-acetylglucosamine | | | | become apparent in the 1st days of life |
| ? N-acetylneuramic acid | | | | when the infant starts taking milk or |
| ? N-acetylgalactosamine | | | | formula. |
| Galactose is found in sugar beets and | | | | Jaundice, liver enlargement and vomiting |
| dairy products. It is a sugar and is | | | | are the usual signs of Galactosemia. |
| also known as brain sugar. Because it | | | | However it can be further complicated by |
| has food energy it is known as a | | | | other infections. Blood tests will |
| nutritive sweetener. It is not very | | | | usually confirm diagnosis. If left |
| water-soluble and is less sweet than | | | | untreated the disease can get serious |
| glucose. When joined with glucose it | | | | and lead to kidney, liver, eye, and |
| forms the disaccharide known as lactose | | | | brain damage. |
| found in milk. Alone glactose is known | | | | The treatment is a glactose free diet. |
| as a monosaccharide. | | | | This is a long-term treatment and may |
| Galactose is a vital nutrient in our | | | | have to be maintained for years and |
| body and deficiencies can cause serious | | | | sometimes the whole of the person?s |
| metabolic disorders: | | | | life. As an added precaution Expectant |
| ? Mental retardation | | | | Mothers who are known to be at risk for |
| ? Cataracts | | | | this disease can also be placed on a |
| ? A rare deficiency | | | | glactose free diet during pregnancy. If |
| UDPgalactose-4-epimerase deficiency can | | | | diagnosed and treated early in life with |
| cause nerve deafness | | | | an infant any liver damage will |
| ? Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl | | | | automatically heal up however if left |
| transferase deficiency | | | | untreated there can be irreversible |
| ? Compulsive blinking disorder. | | | | damage. All jaundiced babies should be |
| Glactose is found in a number of natural | | | | tested for Galactosemia. Galactose is |
| products combined with other sugars, the | | | | also used for research into eye |
| most notable being lactose (combination | | | | diseases. |
| of glactose and glucose). It is the | | | | Consumption of yogurt and cottage cheese |
| glactose in lactose that causes an | | | | will produce more Galactose as the |
| inability to digest dairy products known | | | | lactose in these 2 substances is easily |
| as lactose intolerance. It is also found | | | | broken down into the monosaccharide |
| in polysaccharides, carbohydrates and | | | | forms of glucose and galactose. |
| lipids. Lipids are found in the nerve | | | | Galactose can also be found in pectin, |
| tissue and the brain. Glactose is used | | | | which can be obtained from fruits |
| in medicines and synthetic substances. | | | | especially strawberries, and citrus |
| A rare heriditary disease is known as | | | | fruits. |
| Galactosemia can be found in infants. It | | | | |