BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPellagraVitamin B3 deficiency; Deficiency - niacin; Nicotinic acid deficiencyPellagra is a disease that occurs when a person does not get enough niacin (one of the B complex vitamins) or tryptophan (an amino acid).NiacinNiacin is a type of B vitamin. It is a water-soluble vitamin. It is not stored in the body. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover am...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TryptophanTryptophan is an amino acid needed for normal growth in infants and for the production and maintenance of the body's proteins, muscles, enzymes, and ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes 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 Carcinoid syndrome (group of symptoms associated with carcinoid tumors of the small intestine, colon, appendix, and bronchial tubes in the lungs) Carcinoid syndromeCarcinoid syndrome is a group of symptoms associated with carcinoid tumors. These are tumors most often of the small intestine, colon, appendix, or ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Certain medicines, such as isoniazid, 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, pyrazinamide, hydantoin, ethionamide, phenobarbital, azathioprine, and chloramphenicolPellagra 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. Symptoms Symptoms of pellagra include:Delusions or mental confusion Diarrhea DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weakness Loss of appetite Pain in abdomen Inflamed mucous membrane Scaly skin sores, especially in sun-exposed areas of the skin Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked about the foods you eat.Tests that may be done include urine tests to check if your body has enough niacin. Blood tests may also be done. Treatment 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. Outlook (Prognosis) People often do well after taking niacin. Possible Complications Left untreated, pellagra can result in nerve damage, particularly in the brain and death. Skin sores may become infected. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have any symptoms of pellagra. Prevention Pellagra can be prevented by following a well-balanced diet. Get treated for health problems that may cause pellagra. Open ReferencesReferencesElia M, Lanham-New SA, Kok K. Nutrition. In: Feather A, Randall D, Waterhouse M, eds. Kumar and Clarke's Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 33.Meisenberg G, Simmons WH. Micronutrients. In: Meisenberg G, Simmons WH, eds. Principles of Medical Biochemistry. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 31.So YT. Deficiency diseases of the nervous system. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 85.AllVideoImagesTogVitamin B3 deficit - illustration Pellagra is a disease of deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3) which causes problems in the skin and the digestive and nervous systems.Vitamin B3 deficitillustrationVitamin B3 deficit - illustration Pellagra is a disease of deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3) which causes problems in the skin and the digestive and nervous systems.Vitamin B3 deficitillustrationRelated Information Niacin(Nutrition)Tryptophan(Special Topic) Review Date: 10/25/2022 Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
PellagraVitamin B3 deficiency; Deficiency - niacin; Nicotinic acid deficiencyPellagra is a disease that occurs when a person does not get enough niacin (one of the B complex vitamins) or tryptophan (an amino acid).NiacinNiacin is a type of B vitamin. It is a water-soluble vitamin. It is not stored in the body. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover am...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TryptophanTryptophan is an amino acid needed for normal growth in infants and for the production and maintenance of the body's proteins, muscles, enzymes, and ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes 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 Carcinoid syndrome (group of symptoms associated with carcinoid tumors of the small intestine, colon, appendix, and bronchial tubes in the lungs) Carcinoid syndromeCarcinoid syndrome is a group of symptoms associated with carcinoid tumors. These are tumors most often of the small intestine, colon, appendix, or ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Certain medicines, such as isoniazid, 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, pyrazinamide, hydantoin, ethionamide, phenobarbital, azathioprine, and chloramphenicolPellagra 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. Symptoms Symptoms of pellagra include:Delusions or mental confusion Diarrhea DiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weakness Loss of appetite Pain in abdomen Inflamed mucous membrane Scaly skin sores, especially in sun-exposed areas of the skin Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked about the foods you eat.Tests that may be done include urine tests to check if your body has enough niacin. Blood tests may also be done. Treatment 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. Outlook (Prognosis) People often do well after taking niacin. Possible Complications Left untreated, pellagra can result in nerve damage, particularly in the brain and death. Skin sores may become infected. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have any symptoms of pellagra. Prevention Pellagra can be prevented by following a well-balanced diet. Get treated for health problems that may cause pellagra. Open ReferencesReferencesElia M, Lanham-New SA, Kok K. Nutrition. In: Feather A, Randall D, Waterhouse M, eds. Kumar and Clarke's Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 33.Meisenberg G, Simmons WH. Micronutrients. In: Meisenberg G, Simmons WH, eds. Principles of Medical Biochemistry. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 31.So YT. Deficiency diseases of the nervous system. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 85.