Question
If a newborn is diagnosed with galactosemia, in addition to not being able to breastfeed or consume regular infant formula, what other foods should be avoided in their diet?
Answer
Patients with galactosemia need to avoid dairy products in their diet for at least three years and immediately switch to alternatives such as soy milk and rice porridge, while also supplementing with vitamins and essential fatty acids. Although soy milk contains raffinose and stachyose, which can produce galactose, they cannot be digested by the human digestive tract and are harmless to treatment. Typically, improvements in the condition can be seen within 3-4 days after stopping dairy consumption, with liver function returning to normal within a week. The earlier this dietary intervention begins, the better the prognosis for the child. Although the child’s IQ may fall within the normal range, their academic performance may not be as good as that of normal children.