Galacturia

Galacturia is a rare condition that affects the body’s ability to break down certain sugars, leading to the presence of sugar in the urine. It is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT) which is responsible for breaking down the sugar galactose. As a result, galactose accumulates in the blood and is eventually excreted in the urine, leading to the presence of sugar in the urine. Symptoms of galacturia include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment typically involves dietary modifications to reduce the intake of foods containing galactose, as well as supplementation with galactose-free amino acids.