pediatrics
Galactosemia
Treatment of Galactosemia
Dietary galactose restriction Treatment of galactosemia is elimination of all sources of galactose in the diet, most notably lactose (a source of galactose), which is present in breast milk, all dairy products, including milk-based infant formulas, and is a sweetener used in many foods. A lactose-free diet prevents acute toxicity and reverses some manifestations (eg, cataracts) but may not prevent neurocognitive deficits. Many patients require supplemental calcium and vitamins. For patients with epimerase deficiency, some galactose intake is critical to ensure a supply of uridine-5′-diphosphate-galactose (UDP-galactose) for various metabolic processes. 