Galactosemia is a disorder in the body that results in the body's inability to metabolize galactose adequately. Galactose is a simple sugar that in correctly functioning body systems is used for energy. What happens when a person has galactosemia is the individual cannot break down the simple sugar and thus becomes lethargic, loses energy, loses weight, becomes jaundiced and the person can -- if untreated -- develop worse complications, such as cataracts, cirrhosis, mental disability and even death (Berry, Walter, 2012). Galactosemia is therefore a very serious disorder. However, it can be treated by simply avoiding galactose (milk-based products have galactose). This paper will discuss galactosemia, what causes it, the disadvantages (and advantages) of it, how to avoid suffering from it, and how to treat it. What is Galactosemia?

Galactosemia is a condition by which the GALT gene is mutated in a disadvantageous way. The effect is that the body cannot absorb galactose in the way it should, break it down, and get energy from it. Instead, the galactose stays in the body and builds up causing blockage in cells and tissues. Galactosemia is typically diagnosed very quickly after one is born. Nurses can conduct a blood test by taking a drop of blood from the heel of the baby. An examination of the blood will tell if the GALT gene is mutated or not. If the baby's GALT gene is mutated, then the mother is very quickly advised to halt breastfeeding -- the reason being that breast milk contains lactose, which the body breaks down into galactose, which is then normally metabolized -- except when the GALT gene is mutated, the body cannot metabolize galactose -- so the only way to deal with this issue is to avoid putting galactose into the body -- and that means avoiding milk (Broomfield, Brain, Grunewald, 2015).

Causes

Galactosemia is a genetic disorder that is typically inherited. This means that it is passed down from generation to generation. Some cases occur where galactosemia is acquired from an alternate manner but this is rare. The most common way in which galactosemia is acquired is through genetics that are passed on.

What happens in the case of galactosemia to the patient is that the body is unable to break down lactose into galactose and glucose, which are sugars that the body metabolizes for energy. Galactose is also something that body can make itself. However, when galactosemia is had, the person cannot...

The galactose therefore builds up in the cells and tissues and can cause infections, vomiting, and even death.
There are actually three types of galactosemia. First, there is Galactose-1 phosphate uridyl transferase deficiency -- which is the medical name for classic galactosemia -- the most common type of the disorder (Haldenman-Englert, 2015).

Second, there is what is called a deficiency of galactose kinase. This is less common than the former and is not detected in screenings. It is the result of a mutated GALK gene. It is actually so rare that diagnoses of this type of the disorder are difficult to form.

Third, there is Epimerase deficiency which is a result of a mutated GALE gene. This type of the disorder is not as bad as the other two because only partial inability to metabolize galactose is present. Impaired GALE activity can lead to problems if complete GALE inactivity results but this is not commonly the case.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of having galactosemia are self-evident: one is obliged to avoid all dairy products and any foods that might have galactose, because consumption of these foods and/or products can be potentially life-threatening. Essentially, when you have galactosemia your body is physically handicapped: it cannot do what a normal, healthy body should do. Therefore, there are serious restrictions on the diet of a person with galactosemia.

Another disadvantage is the fact that the situation must be constantly monitored. One has to be aware of one's body at all times and of what one is ingesting -- and one also has to regularly undergo testing in order to make sure that nothing is worsening with one's condition, especially if one has epimerase deficiency, which can worsen and cause a partial inability to metabolize galactose to become a full-blown inability to metabolize the sugar. Thus, this situation has to be continually addressed so that no one is caught off guard.

It is especially disadvantageous for babies because they need their mother's milk to grow and develop. They must therefore take baby formula as a substitute and this can be expensive for some families as buying formula is not a cheap option in today's market. However, for families that are impoverished, formula can be obtained via programs subsidized by the federal government (Galactosemia Foundation, 2015).

Advantages

There are no real advantages of galactosemia -- unless one views avoiding dairy products as an advantage. In fact, some people do. Dr. Mark Hyman (2015) for instance argues that milk is good if you're a calf. If you are a human, milk is only something you need as a baby -- and only then if you are nursing. Milk is not a product that people have…