Pellagra disease

• العربية • Azərbaycanca • বাংলা • Català • Čeština • Dansk • Deutsch • Ελληνικά • Español • Esperanto • Euskara • فارسی • Français • Furlan • Gaeilge • 한국어 • Հայերեն • Ido • Bahasa Indonesia • Italiano • עברית • Қазақша • Lombard • Magyar • Bahasa Melayu • Nederlands • 日本語 • Norsk bokmål • Occitan • ଓଡ଼ିଆ • Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча • Polski • Português • Română • Русский • Simple English • Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски • Suomi • Svenska • தமிழ் • తెలుగు • ไทย • Türkçe • Українська • Vèneto • Tiếng Việt • 中文 Medical condition Pellagra The skin features of pellagra including Types Primary, secondary Causes Not enough Based on symptoms Prevention Consuming Niacin Treatment Niacin or Good (with treatment), death in ~ 5 years (without treatment) Frequency Rare (developed world), relatively common (developing world) Pellagra is a 3). There are two main types of pellagra, primary and secondary. Treatment is with either niacin or Signs and symptoms [ ] The classic symptoms of pellagra are • • • • • Smooth, beefy red • • • • • • • Eventually J. Frostigs and • Psychosensory disturbances (impressions as being painful, annoying bright lights, odors intolerance causing nausea and vomiting, dizziness after sudden movements), • Psychomotor disturbances (restlessness, tense and a desire to quarrel, increased preparedness for motor action), as well as • Emotional disturbances Independently of clinical symptoms, blood level of tryptophan or urinary metabolites such as 2-pyridone/N-methylniaci...

Also known as Tryptophan is one of the amino acids that makes up protein. Your Niacin Deficiency Symptoms Severe deficiency, called pellagra, can cause symptoms related to the • thick, scaly pigmented • swollen mouth and bright red • • headache • apathy • • • disorientation • If not treated, pellagra can lead to death. Pellagra can be reversible with niacin supplementation prescribed under the supervision of your doctor. Pellagra is rare in the U.S. Most people get the recommended amount of niacin in the foods they eat every day. Niacin Deficiency Causes In the 1800s, pellagra was common among poor Americans whose diets consisted mostly of corn, molasses, and salt pork -- all poor sources of niacin. Today, most people in the developed world get plenty of niacin in their diets. Niacin deficiency is more likely to be caused by problems that affect the absorption of niacin or tryptophan. The most common cause is Niacin Deficiency Treatments The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for niacin is 16 milligrams per day for men and 14 milligrams per day for women. Good sources of niacin include red meat, fish, poultry, fortified breads and cereals, and enriched pasta and peanuts. If you don't eat a lot of niacin-rich foods or if you have a medical condition that affects the absorption of niacin or tryptophan, speak to your doctor. Niacin supplements or multivitamin/mineral Supplements of niacin such as nicotinic acid or nicotinamide are approved by the FDA for treating and preventin...

Title page from the 2nd volume of Gaetano Strambio’s De Pellagra. th century. Due to its persistence in the area, pellagra drew the attention of some of the leading physicians of Italy and Spain. In 1778, Italian physician Gaetano Strambio (1752-1831) established a special hospital for pellagra patients in Legnago, Italy. Gaspar Casal’s illustration of pellagra’s cutaneous lesions around the collar.His experiences treating pellagrins prompted a three-volume work, De Pellagra(1786-89), in which he proves that pellagra is not merely a skin disease by showing that it can occur without characteristic dermatitis. Strambio attributes the cause of pellagra to spoiled bread and polenta. In 1869 another Italian, Cesare Lombroso (1836-1909), initiated the theory that pellagra is caused by a toxin in deteriorated maize. In early 20 thcentury America, pellagra seemingly emerged out of nowhere when, in late summer of 1906 near Mobile, Alabama, Dr. George H. Searcy noted a peculiar malady affecting 88 patients at the Mount Vernon Insane Hospital, a state facility for the “colored insane.” Searcy soon realized that he was facing an outbreak of pellagra with its characteristic four-ds. He quickly reported his findings to his Medical Association of Alabama colleagues in 1907( Soon, pellagra would become epidemic throughout the South, and thus the discovery of its etiology became crucial and much-debated. Lombroso’s theory of toxic cornmeal resurfaced, while eugenicists, promoting a popular...

Pellagra is caused by having too little niacin or tryptophan in the diet. It can also occur if the body fails to absorb these nutrients. Pellagra may also develop due to: • Gastrointestinal diseases • Weight loss (bariatric) surgery • Anorexia • Excessive alcohol use • • Certain medicines, such as isoniazid, 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, pyrazinamide, hydantoin, ethionamide, phenobarbital, azathioprine, and chloramphenicol Pellagra is most common among poor and food-limited populations. The disease is more common in parts of the world (such as certain parts of Africa) where people have a lot of untreated corn in their diet. Corn is a poor source of tryptophan, and niacin in corn is tightly bound to other components of the grain. Niacin is released from corn if soaked in limewater overnight. This method is used to cook tortillas in Central America where pellagra is rare. Pellagra is rare in the United States and may be associated with severe alcoholism or medical causes of malnutrition. The goal of treatment is to increase your body's niacin level. You will be prescribed niacin supplements. You may also need to take other supplements. Follow your provider's instructions exactly on how much and how often to take the supplements. Symptoms due to the pellagra, such as skin sores, will be treated. If you have conditions that are causing the pellagra, these will also be treated. Elia M, Lanham-New SA, Kok K. Nutrition. In: Feather A, Randall D, Waterhouse M, eds. Kumar and C...

fcafotodigital / Getty Images Niacin Deficiency Symptoms Symptoms of a slight niacin deficiency can be so mild that you don't notice them at first. But if this deficiency continues, it can lead to a condition called pellagra. Pellagra has some key characteristics known as "the four Ds," which generally appear in this order: After about six months, the body can make some niacin from an amino acid called tryptophan. Turkey is probably the best-known source of tryptophan. To convert from tryptophan to niacin, you need to get adequate amounts of iron, riboflavin (B2), and pyridoxine (B6). A lack of these nutrients can also lead to niacin deficiency. How to Test for Niacin Deficiency A healthcare provider may be able to make the diagnosis based on your symptoms. You can confirm this by taking a simple Serious adverse effects can occur if you take over 1,000 milligrams a day over a long period. Dietary supplements can interact with other medications. Talk to your healthcare provider before adding niacin supplements to your daily routine. Summary Niacin, or vitamin B3, is essential to life. It provides you with energy and keeps your skin and nervous system functioning. Niacin deficiency, known as pellagra, is serious and life-threatening. Symptoms may be mild initially but can escalate to severe digestive, skin, and nervous system problems. Many foods are fortified with niacin. You can also get niacin by taking dietary supplements. Work closely with your healthcare providers or a...