pellagra
B3 deficiency disease
Pellagra is a disease caused by severe deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3), characterized by the "four Ds": dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death if untreated.
It was once common among populations whose diets relied heavily on corn, which contains niacin in a form the body cannot absorb without special preparation.
Pellagra was endemic in the American South until the mid-twentieth century.
The disease is now rare in developed countries due to improved nutrition and food fortification.
Inflammation of the skin
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
- diarrheaFrequent liquid bowel movements
- photosensitivityReactivity to radiant energy
- hyperpigmentationLocalized skin darkening condition
scaling · erythema · glossitis · stomatitis · confusion · depression · hallucinations · delusions
Amide form of B3
- niacinamideB3 vitamin variant
- supplementationAdding to something insufficient
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
- enrichmentImprovement through addition
protein · meat · fish · poultry · legumes · nuts · eggs · milk
Heedless or skin irritation
- lesionsAreas of damaged tissue
- crustingForming a hard exterior
- fissuresNarrow splits in material
- blisteringExtremely intense or severe
ulcerations · exfoliation · thickening · roughness · hands · neck · face · symmetrical
Native to one area
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- asylumShelter from persecution
- sanatoriumFacility for prolonged recovery
- MediterraneanSea between Europe, Africa, Asia
Africa · India · refugees · prisoners · orphanages · institutions · sharecroppers · industrialization
Cereal grown on cobs
- maizeCob-bearing cereal crop
- sorghumWarm-climate cereal grass
- milletSmall-seeded food crop
- alcoholismAddiction to drinking
poverty · famine · malabsorption · carcinoid · leucine
B-vitamin for metabolism
- tryptophanEssential amino acid precursor
- scurvyVitamin C deficiency disease
- beriberiVitamin B1 deficiency disease
- ricketsNutritional bone-weakening illness
malabsorption · micronutrient · thiamine · riboflavin · cobalamin · folate · iron · zinc
dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
- diarrheaFrequent liquid bowel movements
- photosensitivityReactivity to radiant energy
hyperpigmentation · scaling · erythema · glossitis · stomatitis · confusion · depression · hallucinations · delusions · ataxia
nicotinamide
Amide form of B3
- niacinamideB3 vitamin variant
- supplementationAdding to something insufficient
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
enrichment · protein · meat · fish · poultry · legumes · nuts · eggs · milk · recovery
rash
Heedless or skin irritation
blistering · ulcerations · exfoliation · thickening · roughness · hands · neck · face · symmetrical · inflammation
endemic
Native to one area
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- asylumShelter from persecution
- sanatoriumFacility for prolonged recovery
Mediterranean · Africa · India · refugees · prisoners · orphanages · institutions · sharecroppers · industrialization · poverty
corn
Cereal grown on cobs
alcoholism · poverty · famine · malabsorption · carcinoid · leucine
niacin
B-vitamin for metabolism
- tryptophanEssential amino acid precursor
- scurvyVitamin C deficiency disease
- beriberiVitamin B1 deficiency disease
rickets · malabsorption · micronutrient · thiamine · riboflavin · cobalamin · folate · iron · zinc · iodine
- diseasescancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, influenza, measles
- nutritionnutrients, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins
- deficiency symptomsscurvy, beriberi, anemia, goiter, night blindness
- malnutritionmalnutrition, malnourished, undernourished, undernourishment, starvation
- Old Diseasesplague, smallpox, cholera, typhus, typhoid
- B vitamin deficiencyberiberi, thiamine deficiency, B12 deficiency, Korsakoff syndrome