| Pellegra | |||||
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- What is pellegra?
- Symptoms of pellegra
- Causes of pellegra
- Treatment of pellegra
- Important pellegra facts
Pellagra is a curable disease which develops through a severe deficiency of vitamin B3 (niacin).
Pellagra can be of two types:
- Primary - this is when the body has a severely low (or no) intake of vitamin B3 (niacin) over a long period due to a low intake in the diet
- Secondary - this is when the intake of vitamin B3 (niacin) in the is not absorbed due to a variety of factors in cluding many disease, drugs and other conditions
The early symptoms of this vitamin deficiency condition are:
- Dermatitis
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Psychological - agitation, anxiety and depression
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
- Weakness
A late-stage symptom is dementia-like symptoms.
The final result of pellagra is death due to multi-organ failure.
Pellagra is a deficiency of vitamin B3 (or niacin) and / or the amino acids tryptophan in the dietary intake.
Diagnosis and testing
Diagnosis is taken by the following:
- Symptom history - the doctor will ask a series of questions about your symptoms
Conventional treatment
- Vitamin B3 (niacin) intravenously, which is especially benefical for people with secondary pellagra, as intravenous injection of vitamin B3 (niacin) over-rides the stomach
Alternative / complementary treatment
- Treatment is the same as conventional - supplementation of vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Higher intake of foods high in vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Pellagra is basically a preventable disease
- Vitamin B3 (niacin) is the vitamin that prevents this disease
- The amino acid tryptophan is also required as it snthesises vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Pellagra is common in countries where corn (or maize) is the staple food
Last reviewed: 14 January 2007 || Last updated: 21 August 2007
Related Articles
references
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- Williams AC, Ramsden DB. Pellagra: A clue as to why energy failure causes diseases? Med Hypotheses. 2007;69(3):618-28. Epub 2007 Mar 8
To learn more, go to Roper & Parry, Compounding Chemists web site.
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.
