study on cataract formation in the offspring of rats fed a high galactose diet

Vacuolation of eye lenses has been observed in the newborn offspring of rats fed a 40% galactose diet during pregnancy.This is the precursor of galactose-induced cataract. Restriction of this diet from mothers during lactation in normal lenses within 3 weeks of life while continuation of galactose diet to mothers during lactation resulted in mature cataract up to the end of the study [8 weeks]. We conclude that galactose- induced cataract begins in utero due to the accumulation of galactitol, the polyol of galactose, and recovers by restriction of galactose from diet