Tag: Nicotinic acid deficiency

Did you know that a severe nicotinic acid deficiency is the primary cause of the systemic disease known as pellagra, which affects millions globally? This serious condition can affect the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and central nervous system, and can ultimately be fatal if left untreated.

Historically prevalent in populations with limited access to diverse diets, pellagra is a serious nutritional disorder resulting from a severe deficiency of niacin (nicotinic acid), also known as vitamin B3. It primarily affects the skin, digestive tract, and nervous system, and if left untreated, can be fatal.

Pellagra, a condition once epidemic in parts of the world, continues to affect populations in regions with food insecurity. This serious disease, caused by a lack of nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3), is classically defined by the "4 Ds": dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death.