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pellagra
(pә-lag´rә)
a syndrome caused by a diet seriously deficient in niacin (or by failure to convert tryptophan to niacin). Symptoms include a variety of skin, digestive, and mental disturbances; the mouth becomes inflamed and the tongue red and
sore; cracks and sores appear in the skin around the mouth, and the backs of the hands become red and scaly. Most persons
with pellagra also suffer from deficiencies of other vitamins, especially vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Pellagra is now rare in most developed countries because of the enrichment of cereal, grain, and bread products. adj.,
pellag´rous., adj.
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