Pellagre is a disease caused by a niacin deficiency in the body, also known as vitamin B3, that causes symptoms such as skin imperfections, dementia or diarrhea, for example.
This disease is not contagious and can be treated by increasing intake of foods rich in vitamin B3 and supplements with this vitamin.
The most common symptoms of pelagre include
In fact, niacin deficiency has a higher impact on cell renewal, as is the case with skin cells and the gastrointestinal system.
If left untreated, complications such as apathy, confusion, disorientation, irritability, mood swings and headaches can occur. In these cases, you should go to the medical emergency room immediately.
Pellagre may be primary or secondary, depending on the cause of niacin deficiency.
Primary pelagre is one that results from insufficient intake of niacin and tryptophan, which is an amino acid that is converted into niacin in the body. Secondary pelagre is the disease that results from poor absorption of niacin by the body, which can occur due to excessive alcohol consumption, the use of certain medications, diseases that make it difficult to absorb nutrients, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, cirrhosis of the liver, certain types of cancer or Hartnup disease.
The diagnosis of pelagre is made by observing the eating habits of the person, as well as the signs and symptoms shown. In addition, a blood and/or urine test may also be necessary.
The treatment of pelagre consists of changes in the diet, increasing the consumption of foods rich in niacin and tryptophan and supplementation, available in the form of niacinamide and nicotinic acid in combination with other B vitamins, up to a dose to be determined. depending on the person’s health.
In addition, it is also important to treat the disease that causes niacin deficiency and/or change lifestyles that can contribute to the reduction of this vitamin, such as excessive alcohol consumption, improper use of certain medications or low-vitamin diets.
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, tomato and peanuts, for example.
See more vitamin B3-rich foods
Some foods that contain Tryptophan, an amino acid that is converted into niacin in the body, are cheese, peanuts, cashews and almonds, eggs, peas, hake, avocado, potatoes and bananas, for example.