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Pellagra is a vitamin deficiency disease most frequently caused by a chronic lack of niacin (vitamin B3 or synonym: vitamin PP (from: Pellagra Preventing factor)) in the diet. It can be caused by decreased intake of niacin or tryptophan, and possibly by excessive intake of leucine. It may also result from alterations in protein metabolism in disorders such as carcinoid syndrome or Hartnup disease. A deficiency of the amino acid lysine can lead to a deficiency of niacin, as well.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Lysine | amino acid health benefits, dietary sources, side effects )〕 ==Signs and symptoms== Pellagra is classically described by "the three Ds": diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia. A more comprehensive list of symptoms includes: * High sensitivity to sunlight * Aggression * Dermatitis, alopecia (hair loss), edema (swelling) * Smooth, beefy red glossitis (tongue inflammation) * Red skin lesions * Insomnia * Weakness * Mental confusion * Ataxia (lack of coordination), paralysis of extremities, peripheral neuritis (nerve damage) * Diarrhea * Dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged, weakened heart) * Eventually dementia J. Frostig and Tom Spies (acc. to Cleary and Cleary) described more specific psychological symptoms of pellagra as:〔FROSTIG, J. P., and SPIES, T. D.: ''The initial syndrome of pellagra and associated deficiency diseases''. American Journal of Medical Science 199:268, 1940.〕 * Psychosensory disturbances (impressions as being painful, annoying bright lights, odors intolerance causing nausea and vomiting, dizziness after sudden movements) * Psychomotor disturbances (restlessness, tense and a desire to quarrel, increased preparedness for motor action) * Emotional disturbances Despite clinical symptoms, blood level of tryptophan or urinary metabolites such as 2-pyridone/N-methylniacinamide ratio <2 or NAD/NADP ratio in red blood cells could be used to diagnose pellagra. Diagnosis could be confirmed after rapid improvements in the symptoms in patients using high doses of niacin (50–500 mg/day) or niacin enriched food. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pellagra」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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