Pellagra is a disease caused by a deficiency of niacin which is Vitamin B3, also called niacin, in the body. This disease is not contagious and that is why it is not passed from one individual to another.
The causes of pellagra can be a lack of vitamin B3 in the body or alcoholism. See the symptoms of the lack of this vitamin here.
Pellagra symptoms
Symptoms of pellagra include:
- Appearance of black spots on the skin, which after a few days generate crusts; Diarrhea; Dementia.
The diagnosis of pellagra is established based on eating habits, symptoms and also with a urine test where it is possible to verify low concentrations of niacin by-products in the urine, although blood tests can be useful.
Treatment for pellagra
The treatment of pellagra consists of the administration of niacin supplements available as niacinamide and nicotinic acid in combination with other B vitamins.
The doctor should adjust the amount to be supplemented, which can range from 100 to 300 mg 3 times a day of nicotinamide. It is important to consider the presence of diseases such as gout for this supplementation in order to weigh the cost-benefit of the treatment and adjust the medication.
Pellagra also occurs in individuals with Hartnup's disease, a rare inherited disorder characterized by a deficiency in the absorption of tryptophan, which is involved in the organic production of vitamin B3, in these cases it is also necessary to supplement with high doses of niacin.
Some foods rich in Niacin
| Chicken | 12.8 milligrams |
| Pork | 11.0 milligrams |
| Beef | 10.2 milligrams |
| Wheat germ | 9.8 milligrams |
| Cheddar cheese | 0.4 milligrams |
| Whole grain bread | 5.9 milligrams |
The normally recommended dose of Vitamin B3 (niacin) is 18 milligrams per day.
