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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Politics and pellagra: the epidemic of pellagra in the U.S. in the early twentieth century.

The epidemic of pellagra in the first half of this century at its peak produced at least 250,000 cases and caused 7,000 deaths a year for several decades in 15 southern states. It also filled hospital wards in other states, which had a similar incidence but refused to report their cases. Political influences interfered, not only with surveillance of the disease, but also in its study, recognition of its cause, and the institution of preventive measures when they became known. Politicians and the general public felt that it was more acceptable for pellagra to be infectious than for it to be a form of malnutrition, a result of poverty and thus an embarrassing social problem. Retrospectively, a change in the method of milling cornmeal, degermination, which began shortly after 1900, probably accounted for the appearance of the epidemic; such a process was suggested at the time, but the suggestion was ignored.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1977

Nutritional influences of pellagra on sebum composition.

Sebum composition has been measured in 51 patients with varying degrees of pellagra and compared with a control group of subjects in the same geographic area. In the pellagra group the wax ester percentage was 14-9 versus the normal of 21-9%. The squalene percentage was increased in the pellagra group (11-6%) versus a control value of 8-4%. A small increase in the percentage of cholesterol was also noted. These changes, which previously have been observed in starved but otherwise normal subjects, were reversible with adequate refeeding.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pellagra: a disease resurging in Zaire. A study of 231 cases (author's transl)].

231 cases of pellagra among 8,000 consulting patients has been observed from May 1977 to June 1978 in the Dermatological Dispensary of the Hospital G.E.C.A.-Mines of Lumbumbashi (Zaire). This disease by nutritional deficiency can be easily recognized especially through its dermatological symptomatology. It occurs mainly in young patients fed solely on maize, but the most severe cases have been observed in prisoners. Three age groups seem particularly prone to pellagra: children after weaning, pubescent adolescents in quick growing age, grown-up women during pregnancy and lactation. Vitaminotherapy is effective in a few days; a simultaneous treatment of intestinal parasites has to be required. The incidence of this endemic pellagra worsened after the war of May 1978, reaching 7 p. 100 among the population around the main towns of the province Shaba.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

D-xylose absorption and jejunal morphology in African patients with pellagra (niacin tryptophan deficiency).

D-xylose absorption tests and jejunal morphology have been shown to be unaltered in 12 African patients with pellagra when compared with normal values for Zambian Africa adults; that result is contrary to two previous investigations in India and Egypt respectively. A significant inverse association has been shown, however, between D-xylose absorption and serum immunoglobulin IgG and IgA concentrations; that is consistent with previous studies and probably reflects malabsorption of xylose in the presence of systemic infections. It is concluded that pellagra per se does not alter intestinal structure or monosaccharide absorption.

Humans↗
PubMed1975

Plasma amino acid pattern in pellagra.

Plasma free amino acid levels were determined in subjects suffering from pellagra and compared with levels observed in normal subjects of both low and high socioeconomic groups. In pellagrins, a wide variation was seen in the plasma levels of tryptophan and these levels overlapped considerably with those in the low socioeconomic group controls. Administration of 5 g L-leucine daily for 5 days to normal subjects belonging to the low socioeconomic group did not affect the plasma tryptophan levels. These data suggest that the pellagragenic action of leucine is not mediated through changes in circulating levels of tryptophan. They also indicate that a low level of plasma tryptophan per se may not be a reliable biochemical indicator in the diagnosis of pellagra.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Studies of tryptophan and albumin metabolism in a patient with carcinoid syndrome, pellagra, and hypoproteinemia.

Detailed studies of protein metabolism were undertaken in a patient with pellagra and hypoproteinemia associated with the carcinoid syndrome both before and after treatment. The synthesis of albumin improved from 82 mg per kg per day to 135 mg per kg per day with little change in the daily excretion of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid. After treatment with nicotinamide the patient made good progress with a complete resolution of the signs of pellagra and protein malnutrition. These results support the hypothesis that a reduced availability of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan may limit the synthesis of albumin and nicotinic acid in patients with the carcinoid syndrome who become anoretic.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Pellagra.

Pellagra due to malnutrition occurred in an Ottawa women in 1973. She was given a normal diet with supplements of riboflavin, thiamine, niacin and ascorbic acid. The clinical response was striking. Although pellagra is still common in some parts of the world, it is now rare in North America. The disease may occur secondary to malnutrition or malabsorption; inborn errors of metabolism or transport, as in Hartnup disease; deviation of precursors of niacin, as in carcinoid syndrome; or competitive inhibition of niacin incorporation into nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, as with administration of isoniazid.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The urinary metabolites of niacin during the course of pellagra].

The three main metabolites of niacin have been measured in urine of 10 Mozambican women living in refugee camps in Malawi and displaying clinical symptoms of pellagra. This study, in which a control group was included, showed that the ratio 6PYR/N1MN is well correlated to the occurrence of clinical symptoms of niacin deficiency and constitutes a reliable indicator of vitamin PP status in subjects at risk of this deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Topically applied niacinamide in isoniazid-induced pellagra.

A patient with tuberculous meningitis developed a pellagra-like skin eruption after treatment with isoniazid. Administration of the drug was continued, and a topical preparation of niacinamide (nico-tinamide) was applied to one half of the face and the back of one hand. The areas treated responded rapidly, and subsequently all affected areas of the patient were treated, with almost complete resolution of the rash. At the same time, there was noticeable improvement in the patient's depression and apathy. We suggest that all of these changes could be due to percutaneous absorption of niacinamide.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1975

Serotonin metabolism is pellagra.

Altered mental status is common in pellagrins. We evaluated the mental status of pellagrins in relation to the neurohormone, serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), an end product of serotonin in the urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and of platelet 5-HT were determined in a group of pellagrins and in normal subjects. The results indicated that the 5-HT concentration was reduced in platelets and 5-HIAA excretion in urine was below normal levels. The 5-HIAA concentration in CSF was also reduced, suggesting a decrease in 5-HT functional activity in the brain.

Adult↗