Patient's question:
When we feed the child, he doesn't eat much and even vomits. We felt something was wrong and took him to the doctor. The result was that he was diagnosed with galactosemia. Now breastfeeding is not possible, and regular infant formula doesn't work either. I've really worried about his diet. Please guide me on what foods he can and cannot eat.The help I hope to receive: What are the dietary restrictions for galactosemia patients?
Doctor's answer:
Patients with galactosemia should follow the following dietary precautions: Avoid dairy products. The dietary restriction should be maintained for at least 3 years. Immediately discontinue dairy products and switch to alternatives such as soy milk and rice powder, supplemented with vitamins, fats, and other essential nutrients. Although soy milk contains raffinose and stachyose, which can be broken down to release galactose, these substances cannot be digested by the human intestine and are therefore harmless to treatment. Clinical symptoms typically stabilize within 3 to 4 days after avoiding dairy products, and liver function improves within a week. The earlier the dietary restriction is started, the better the prognosis for the child. Although the child's intelligence may fall within the normal range, their academic performance still lags behind that of normal children.