LEGUMINOSAE IN THE DIET - THE RAFFINOSE-STACHYOSE QUESTION

Adhering to a galactose-free diet by strictly avoiding dairy products and known hidden sources of galac-tose does not completely normalize g alactose-1-phosphate (gal-1-P) in erythrocytes from patients with gala ctosemia. Major neurological complications, even in the best treated p atients, are threatening a good clinical outcome and dictate a contino us search for leaks in the dietary regimen. Raffinose and stachyose, p resent in important amounts in various vegetables, contain alpha-1,4 l inked galactose which is cleaved only by bacterial alpha-galactosidase s, presumably in the lower part of the gut. In order to test the hypot hesis whether galactose released from raffinose and stachyose could be a source of absorbed galactose and a cause of elevated gal-1-P six pa tients with galactosemia (aged 6-24 years), underwent a raffinose- and stachyose-poor dietary regimen for 2 weeks. Before, after, and during the test period, the daily intake of stachyose and raffinose as well of protein, carbohydrate, fat and minerals was calculated from food pr otocols obtained from the patients. Plasma galactose and erythrocyte g al-1-P were measured at the end of the three test phases. Stachyose an d raffinose intake was reduced to 5%-10% during the experimental diet, which was well tolerated, except for constipation in some patients. I n five of the six patients gal-1-P in erythrocytes was somewhat lower (statistically not significant) during the test phase than during regu lar diet while plasma galactose remained unchanged. Galactose released from raffinose ana stachyose may be absorbed and contribute to elevat ed gal-1-P values in erythrocytes of galactosemic patients.