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- What is pellagra?
- Symptoms of pellagra
- Causes of pellagra
- Prevention of pellagra
- Risk factors for pellagra
- Complications of pellagra
- When to see a doctor about pellagra
- Diagnosis of pellagra
- Conventional treatment of pellagra
- Alternative/complementary treatment of pellagra
- Living with pellagra
- Caring for someone with pellagra
Pellagra may be unpreventable in certain circumstances:
- People with certain conditions - people with certain health conditions (diabetes) that affect their body's ability to absorb the vitamin B3 (niacin) content in foods eaten may not be able to prevent this from occurring. Your doctor will discuss your options on how to prevent a serious vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency
- People taking certain medications - people taking certain medications (antibiotics, isoniazid) that affect their body's ability to absorb the vitamin B3 (niacin) content in foods eaten may not be able to prevent this from occurring. Your doctor will discuss your options on how to prevent a serious vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency
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There are ways to prevent pellagra from occurring.:
- Don't drink alcohol excessively - excessive amounts of alcohol causes a high excretion of nutrients from the urine and long term alcoholics have a deficiency of not just vitamin B3 (niacin), but also all the nutrients. People with an addiction to alcohol must seek help to prevent not just pellagra, but other health conditions associated with excessive alcohol intake
- Eat a healthy diet - a diet rich in foods high in vitamin B3 (niacin) is essential to prevent a deficiency in this important nutrient. The foods that are rich in vitamin B3 (niacin) are: beef, fish, chicken, nuts
- Take supplements if necessary - people who are in the groups at risk of developing pellagra, may be recommended to take a vitamin B3 (niacin) supplement to prevent deficiency. Usually a vitamin B complex supplement with all the B vitamins will be recommended, because if vitamin B3 (niacin) is deficient in the diet, the other B vitamins may be deficient too. A tryptophan supplement may also be recommended
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< 3: causes 5: risk factors > Last reviewed: 18 February 2009 || Last updated: 24 February 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
