Why does corn cause pellagra

Taking certain dietary supplements may be beneficial for lung health. See which vitamins our registered dietitian recommends as the best for…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. What are the symptoms? What causes it? How is it diagnosed? How is it treated? Living with pellagra. Read this next.

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Malnutrition: Definition, Symptoms and Treatment. The Surprising Truth. Magnesium for Migraines When taken in safe doses, magnesium can effectively prevent migraines for many people. At this time corn was a major part of the diet of most native people living in North and South America. Though at this time, Europeans did not know about corn until he returned to Spain with samples. Within a few years the Spaniards had introduced maize corn around the Mediterranean.

When corn was introduced to the countries of Africa it led to a serious imbalance in the diet of the African people. Soon the Africans became over reliant on corn and in return suffered from Vitamin B deficiency…Pellagra. Pellagra is a disease caused by having too little niacin vitamin B3 or tryptophan an amino acid in the diet. It can also occur if the body fails to absorb these nutrients. Some of the symptoms include sore skin, fatigue, mental disorders, diarrhea, inflamed mucous membranes, aggression, insomnia, sensitivity to sunlight, etc.

These Africans suffered from this disease from eating too much corn, though the native peoples of North and South America did not. Yet they were often heavily reliant on corn. How can that be? The "niacin equivalent" values of foods calculated from their content of both nutrients show a much better correlation with their pellagra-preventive value. Thus, mature corn is lower in niacin content than are wheat and rice; also the mixed proteins of corn are lower in their tryptophan content.

What is not explained by the calculation of "niacin equivalent" is the general freedom from pellagra of the peasants in Mexico and Central America, where corn has been the staple for millenia and where poverty, the consequent lack of animal foods in the diet, and general misery, have been fully equal to the conditions in Europe.

It has been known for 40 years that analytical values for the niacin content of foods depended greatly on the method of extraction used, with the highest values being obtained after treatment with alkali. You will be asked about the foods you eat. Tests that may be done include urine tests to check if your body has enough niacin. Blood tests may also be done. The goal of treatment is to increase your body's niacin level. You will be prescribed niacin supplements.

You may also need to take other supplements. Follow your provider's instructions exactly on how much and how often to take the supplements. Left untreated, pellagra can result in nerve damage, particularly in the brain. Skin sores may become infected. Kumar and Clarke's Clinical Medicine.