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What are symptoms of pellagra disease?

Joe Ford

What are symptoms of pellagra disease?

Symptoms of pellagra include:

  • Delusions or mental confusion.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Weakness.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Pain in abdomen.
  • Inflamed mucous membrane.
  • Scaly skin sores, especially in sun-exposed areas of the skin.

Does pellagra still exist?

Pellagra often is considered to be extinct in developed countries, but it still occurs in rare instances. It is caused by niacin deficiency, but can also develop secondary to deficiency of tryptophan, a precursor of niacin.

Can pellagra be cured?

Pellagra can be effectively cured with intravenous or oral niacin or nicotinamide.

Where is pellagra most commonly found?

Pellagra is common in poor parts of the world, such as Africa and India, where corn (or maize) is a staple food. This is because corn is a poor source of tryptophan and niacin. In the United States, pellagra was prevalent in the early 1900’s in the South where corn played a large role in the diet.

How can pellagra be prevented?

The primary prevention of pellagra involves an adequate diet. Food sources of niacin and/or tryptophan include nutritional yeast, eggs, bran, peanuts, meat, poultry, fish with red meat, cereals (especially fortified cereals), legumes, and seeds.

What are the major causes of pellagra?

Primary pellagra is caused by diets low in niacin or tryptophan. Tryptophan can be converted to niacin in the body, so not getting enough can cause niacin deficiency. Primary pellagra is most common in developing countries that depend on corn as a staple food.

How does pellagra affect the body?

Pellagra is a disease caused by a lack of the vitamin niacin (vitamin B3). Symptoms include inflamed skin, diarrhea, dementia, and sores in the mouth. Areas of the skin exposed to either sunlight or friction are typically affected first. Over time affected skin may become darker, stiffen, peel, or bleed.

Which disease is caused by deficiency of niacin?

Complications of niacin deficiency include the condition of pellagra( associated symptoms include mental confusion, glossitis, alopecia, dermatitis, sensitivity to sunlight, enlarged heart, peripheral neuritis, and dementia).

How much niacin is safe to take in a day?

The recommended daily amount of niacin for adult males is 16 milligrams (mg) a day and for adult women who aren’t pregnant, 14 mg a day.

Who is most at risk for niacin deficiency?

Crohn’s disease, which affects almost 800,000 Americans, can cause vitamin B3 deficiency. So can Hartnup’s disease, a rare hereditary disorder, and a condition called carcinoid syndrome. People on dialysis and people who have cancer or HIV also have an increased risk of niacin deficiency.

What vegetable has the most vitamin A?

10 Vegetables High in Provitamin A

  • Collards (cooked) — 80% DV per serving.
  • Turnip Greens (cooked) — 61% DV per serving.
  • Carrot (cooked) — 44% DV per serving.
  • Sweet Red Pepper (raw) — 29% DV per serving.
  • Swiss Chard (raw) — 16% DV per serving.
  • Spinach (raw) — 16% DV per serving.
  • Romaine Lettuce (raw) — 14% DV per serving.

Is it OK to take all my vitamins at once?

Combining supplements will not normally interfere with the way they work and in some cases may be beneficial, for example vitamin C helps iron absorption. However, certain supplements may interact with each other.