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