title: Galactose metabolism and health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Galactose - a key source of energy and a crucial structural element in complex molecules - is particularly important for early human development. However, galactose metabolism might be important not only for fetal and neonatal development but also for adulthood, as evidenced by the inherited disorders of galactose metabolism. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence of galactose metabolism in health and disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The biological importance of galactose goes beyond its importance as a nutrient and a metabolite. Galactose has been selected by evolutionary pressure to exert also a crucial structural role in macromolecules. Additionally, galactose has recently been reported as beneficial in a number of diseases, particularly in those affecting the brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galactose is crucial for human metabolism, with an established role in energy delivery and galactosylation of complex molecules, and evidence for other roles is emerging.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Pediatrics and Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands bThe Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA *Gerard T. Berry and M. Estela Rubio-Gozalbo contributed equally to the writing of this article.
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Gerard T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: M Estela
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rubio-Gozalbo
mesh_terms: D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D005690:Galactose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D005693:Galactosemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D005690:Galactose