The key difference between galactosemia and lactose intolerance is that galactosemia is a medical condition that prevents the body from breaking down galactose and causing it to build up to a toxic level in the blood, while lactose intolerance is a medical condition that causes lactose malabsorption and difficulties in digesting lactose in the diet.
Galactosemia and lactose intolerance are two metabolic disorders. However, galactosemia is life-threatening, while lactose intolerance is not life-threatening. Untreated galactosemia leads to brain damage, speech problems, and reproductive problems, while untreated lactose intolerance results in diarrhoea, bloating, and intestinal cramping.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Galactosemia
3. What is Lactose Intolerance
4. Similarities – Galactosemia and Lactose Intolerance
5. Galactosemia vs Lactose Intolerance in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Galactosemia vs Lactose Intolerance
What is Galactosemia?
Galactosemia is an inherited genetic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down galactose. As a result, galactose builds up to a toxic level in the blood. If both of the parents are carriers of the mutated gene, the offspring gets a 25% chance of inheriting this condition. Classic galactosemia is very rare. It occurs in approximately 1 in 45,000 people. The signs and symptoms of galactosemia may include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, severe weight loss, weakness, failure to thrive, jaundice, ascites, liver enlargement, and swelling around the brain. Moreover, galactosemia shows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Galactosemia happens due to mutations in genes such as GALT, GALK1, or GALE. The mutated gene fails to produce enzymes like UDP-galactose-4-epimerase, which are necessary to break down galactose for energy.
Galactosemia can be diagnosed through physical examination, phenylketonuria (PKU) test, blood test, and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for galactosemia may include avoiding dairy products to remove galactose from the body, supplementation with calcium and vitamin D, speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural therapy, targeted learning plans, and hormone therapy.
What is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is a medical condition that causes lactose malabsorption and difficulties in digesting lactose in the diet. This condition occurs in people who lack the enzyme needed to break down lactose, the sugar in the milk. The inability to absorb lactose malabsorption from the diet is due to a lack of an enzyme called lactase and gut sensitivity toward undigested lactose. The typical signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance may include a bloated stomach, intestinal gas, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, cramping, gurgling or rumbling in the stomach, and diarrhoea. Congenital lactose intolerance (from birth) is due to gene mutations (LCT gene) responsible for lactase enzyme production. Moreover, congenital lactose inheritance shows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern.
Lactose intolerance can be diagnosed through physical examination, hydrogen breath test, blood sugar test, and stool acidity test. Furthermore, treatment options for lactose intolerance may include lactase supplementation, consuming probiotics, using dairy alternatives in the diet, and taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.
What are the Similarities Between Galactosemia and Lactose Intolerance?
- Galactosemia and lactose intolerance are two metabolic disorders.
- Both conditions can be aggravated due to dairy consumption.
- Both conditions are due to a lack of enzymes.
- They can be genetic.
- Both conditions follow an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern.
- They can be diagnosed through blood tests.
- They are treated by avoiding dairy consumption and taking specific supplements.
What is the Difference Between Galactosemia and Lactose Intolerance?
Galactosemia is a medical condition that prevents the body from breaking galactose, which causes a build-up of galactose to a toxic level in the blood, while lactose intolerance is a medical condition that causes lactose malabsorption and difficulties in digesting lactose in the diet. Thus, this is the key difference between galactosemia and lactose intolerance. Furthermore, galactosemia is a life-threatening condition, while lactose intolerance is not a life-threatening condition.
The below infographic presents the differences between galactosemia and lactose intolerance in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Galactosemia vs Lactose Intolerance
Galactosemia and lactose intolerance are two metabolic disorders that can be aggravated due to dairy consumption. Both these conditions are due to a lack of enzymes needed to break down specific sugar molecules. Galactosemia prevents the body from breaking down galactose, while lactose intolerance causes lactose malabsorption and difficulties in digesting lactose in the diet. So, this is the key difference between galactosemia and lactose intolerance.
Reference:
1. “Galactosemia: Medlineplus Genetics.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Lactose Intolerance.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Galactosemia” By The University of Arizona Health Sciences (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Worldwide prevalence of lactose intolerance in recent populations” By NmiPortal – Own work / Food Intolerance Network (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia