Monosaccharides improve symptoms of an animal model for type III galactosemia, through the activation of the insulin pathway.

Type III galactosemia is characterized by the inability to metabolize galactose due to deficiency of the UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (GALE) gene, which catalyzes the interconversion of UDP-Galactose and UDP-Glucose. Additionally, GALE interconverts UDP-N-Acetylgalactosamine and UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine. These four sugars are needed for glycosylation of biomolecules.