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Pellagra is a disease caused by the deficiency of niacin in the body, also known as Vitamin B3, leading to the appearance of symptoms, such as skin blemishes, dementia or diarrhea, for example.
This disease is not contagious and can be treated by increasing the intake of foods rich in vitamin B3 and supplements with this vitamin.
What symptoms
The most common symptoms of pellagra include:
- Dermatitis, with the appearance of black and discolored spots on the skin;
- Diarrhea;
- Insanity.
This is because niacin deficiency has a greater impact on renewing cells, as is the case with skin cells and the gastrointestinal system.
If the disease is not treated, complications can arise, such as apathy, confusion, disorientation, irritability, mood swings and headache. In these cases, you must immediately go to the medical emergency.
Possible causes
Pellagra can be primary or secondary, depending on the cause of the niacin deficiency.
Primary pellagra is one that results from an insufficient intake of niacin and tryptophan, which is an amino acid that is converted into niacin in the body. Secondary pellagra is the disease that results from poor absorption of niacin by the body, which can happen due to excessive alcohol consumption, use of certain medications, diseases that hinder the absorption of nutrients, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, cirrhosis of the liver, certain types of cancer or Hartnup's disease.
What is the diagnosis
The diagnosis of pellagra is made by observing the person's eating habits, as well as the signs and symptoms manifested. In addition, it may also be necessary to perform a blood and / or urine test.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of pellagra consists of changes in the diet, by increasing the intake of foods rich in niacin and tryptophan and in the administration of supplements, available as niacinamide and nicotinic acid in combination with other B vitamins, in a dosage that must be determined by doctor, depending on the person's state of health.
In addition, it is also important to treat the disease that is the source of the niacin deficit and / or change lifestyles that may contribute to the reduction of this vitamin, as is the case of excessive alcohol use, inappropriate use of certain medications or performing diets low in vitamins.
Foods rich in niacin
Some of the foods rich in niacin, which can be included in the diet, are chicken, fish, such as salmon or tuna, liver, sesame seeds, tomatoes and peanuts, for example.
See more foods rich in vitamin B3.
Tryptophan-rich foods
Some foods that contain tryptophan, an amino acid that is converted into niacin in the body, are cheese, peanuts, cashews and almonds, egg, peas, hake, avocado, potatoes and bananas, for example.