Pellagra

Pellagra is a disease caused by a lack of niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin is found in most foods. A person can die from pellagra if it is not treated. The main results of pellagra can be remembered as "the four D's": diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and death.Some symptoms of pellagra according to a few sources are abdominal cramping,depression,diarrhea,headache,loss of appetite,mucus membrane inflammation,dilated cardiomyopathy. It is also caused due to cellular deficiency of niacin, chronic alcoholism or gastro-intestinal malabsorption. It can be prevented by adequate intake of niacin or foods rich in vitamin B3 and dietary advice to vulnerable groups.