Final answer:
Infants with galactosemia require a lactose-free infant formula, which does not contribute to the build-up of galactose in their blood since lactose, which is composed of glucose and galactose, cannot be properly digested due to a missing enzyme.
Step-by-step explanation:
Galactosemia is a genetic disease that occurs due to the absence of an enzyme required to convert galactose to glucose. This conversion issue causes the accumulation of galactose in the blood, leading to the condition known as galactosemia. Since lactose is made up of glucose and galactose, infants with galactosemia cannot process lactose found in regular milk. The treatment for this condition involves providing a lactose-free infant formula. This specialty formula does not contain lactose and therefore does not contribute to the accumulation of galactose in the infant's body. Instead, lactose-free formulas use other sweeteners that can be safely metabolized without producing galactose.
Lactose intolerance is different from galactosemia, though the two conditions share some dietary restrictions. Lactose intolerance results from a deficiency of lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. People with lactose intolerance, including some infants, may also benefit from lactose-free products, although the underlying issue is not the same as galactosemia.