Which condition is caused by the inability to metabolize galactose?

Galactosemia is a genetic disorder that arises from the body's inability to properly metabolize galactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products. This metabolic defect is typically due to a deficiency in one of the enzymes required for the conversion of galactose to glucose. When galactose accumulates in the body, it can lead to serious complications, particularly affecting the liver, brain, and other organs. Symptoms may include jaundice, vomiting, poor weight gain, and development delays if not managed properly.

The other conditions listed are associated with different metabolic issues. For instance, phenylketonuria involves a deficiency in the enzyme needed to metabolize phenylalanine, congenital hypothyroidism pertains to underactive thyroid hormone production, and maple syrup urine disease is linked to the inability to break down certain amino acids. Each of these conditions involves distinct biochemical pathways and does not relate to the metabolism of galactose. Consequently, galactosemia is uniquely characterized by its specific metabolic challenge with galactose.