Galactosemia

Inability  of conversion of galactose  to glucose results in the accumulation of galactose in  the  blood  -  known  as galactosemia. The biochemical defect usually  found  in galactosemia  is  the deficiency  of  the  enzyme galactose-1-phosphate  uridyl transferuse.  Initially, galactose accumulates  in the tissues,  then in the blood. The major organ  damaged  by  galactose accumulation  is  liver. Galactose  is reduced  to  the corresponding alcohol called galactitol  in the eye which causes cataract.