Diet Links: Disclaimer
WARNING TO PARENTS OF GALACTOSEMIC CHILDREN ABOUT DIETS FOR LACTOSE INTOLERANT PATIENTS:
Some diets for Lactose Intolerant patients allow foods with small amounts of lactose as many lactose intolerant individuals may ingest small amounts of lactose without clinical signs. NO GALACTOSEMIC PATIENT SHOULD EVER INGEST ANY AMOUNT OF LACTOSE!!! Lactose Intolerant Links are included here as they have good tips on dairy free diets, cookbooks, food allergy links, product recalls etc. As always you should read labels before you feed anything to your galactosemic child. IF YOU ARE CONFUSED ABOUT INGREDIENTS/FOOD ITEMS, DO NOT FEED THE ITEM TO YOUR GALACTOSEMIC CHILD. Consult your physician and/or dietician for questions you may have.
Lactose intolerance (not to be confused with galactosemia) is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the predominant sugar of milk. This inability results from a shortage of the enzyme Beta Galactosidase (Lactase), which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Lactase breaks down milk sugar into simpler forms (galactose and glucose) that can then be absorbed into the bloodstream. When there is not enough lactase to digest the amount of lactose consumed, the results, although not usually dangerous for lactose intolerant patients, may be very distressing and include intestinal gas, bloating and diarrhea.
Children with "Classical Galactosemia" do not have measurable activity of the enzyme Galactose-1-Phosphate Uridyl Transferase which ultimately converts galactose-1-phosphate to glucose. GALACTOSEMIC CHILDREN MAY NOT USE LACTASE ENZYME REPLACER such as Lactaid or Dairy Ease and then have lactose containing products. Lactaid and Dairy Ease (Lactase) break down lactose into the components glucose and galactose which would be absorbed. Galactosemic children can not metabolize a galactose load because of their deficiency of the enzyme Galactose-1-Phosphate Uridyl Transferase. REMEMBER, NO GALACTOSEMIC CHILD MAY HAVE ANY LACTOSE CONTAINING PRODUCTS. THERE IS NO ENZYME REPLACEMENT THERAPY FOR GALACTOSEMIA. Again, consult your physician and/or dietician for questions you may have.