- Infant formulas for galactosemia
- What are the general precautions with food
- Symptoms of galactosemia in the baby
- Here's how to prepare other milks without galactose:
The baby with galactosemia should not be breastfed or take infant formulas that contain milk, and should be fed soy formulas such as Nan Soy and Aptamil Soy. Children with galactosemia are unable to metabolize galactose, a sugar derived from milk lactose, and therefore cannot ingest any type of milk and dairy products.
In addition to milk, other foods contain galactose, such as animal offal, soy sauce and chickpeas. Therefore, parents must be careful that no food with galactose is offered to the baby, avoiding complications resulting from the accumulation of galactose, such as mental retardation, cataracts and cirrhosis.
Infant formulas for galactosemia
Babies with galactosemia cannot be breastfed and must take soy-based infant formulas that do not contain milk or milk by-products as ingredients. Examples of formulas indicated for these babies are:
- Nan Soy; Aptamil Soy; Enfamil ProSobee; SupraSoy;
Soy-based formulas should be offered to the baby according to the doctor's or nutritionist's guidance, as they depend on the baby's age and weight. Boxed soy milks like Ades and Sollys are not suitable for children under 2 years.
What are the general precautions with food
The child with galactosemia must not eat milk and dairy products, nor products containing galactose as an ingredient. Thus, the main foods that should not be given to the baby when complementary feeding starts are:
- Milk and dairy products, including butter and margarine containing milk; Ice cream; Chocolate with milk; Chickpeas; Viscera: kidneys, liver and heart; Canned or processed meats such as tuna and tinned meat;
Fermented soy sauce.
The child's parents and caregivers should also check the label for galactose. The ingredients of industrialized products containing galactose are: hydrolyzed milk protein, casein, lactalbumin, calcium caseinate, monosodium glutamate. See more about prohibited foods and allowed foods in What to eat in galactose intolerance.
Symptoms of galactosemia in the baby
The symptoms of galactosemia in the baby arise when the child eats food containing galactose. These symptoms can be reversible if the galactose-free diet is followed early, but excess sugar in the body can have negative consequences for life, such as mental disability and cirrhosis. Symptoms of galactosemia are:
- Vomiting; Diarrhea; Tiredness and lack of spirits; Swollen belly; Difficulty in gaining stubble and delayed growth; Yellow skin and eyes.
Galactosemia is diagnosed in the heel prick test or in an exam during pregnancy called amniocentesis, which is why children are usually diagnosed early and soon begin treatment, which allows for proper and uncomplicated development.
Here's how to prepare other milks without galactose:
