The deficiency of which of the following vitamins causes Pellagra?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. B3
Pellagra is a disease that occurs when a person does not get enough niacin (also known as vitamin B3) or tryptophan (an amino acid).
- It’s marked by dementia, diarrhea, and dermatitis, also known as “the three Ds”. If left untreated, pellagra can be fatal.
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The main symptoms of pellagra are dermatitis, dementia, and diarrhea. This is because niacin deficiency is most noticeable in body parts with high rates of cell turnover, such as your skin or gastrointestinal tract.
Dermatitis related to pellagra usually causes a rash on the face, lips, feet, or hands. In some people, dermatitis forms around the neck, a symptom known as Casal necklace.
Additional dermatitis symptoms include:
- red, flaky skin
- areas of discoloration, ranging from red to brown
- thick, crusty, scaly, or cracked skin
- itchy, burning patches of skin
Primary pellagra is treated with dietary changes and a niacin or nicotinamide supplement. It may also need to be given intravenously. Nicotinamide is another form of vitamin B-3.
Additional detail-
| B5 | Pantothenic acid, also called vitamin B5 is a water-soluble B vitamin and therefore an essential nutrient. |
| B2 | Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is a vitamin found in food and sold as a dietary supplement. It is essential to the formation of two major coenzymes, flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide. |
| B1 | Thiamine, also known as thiamin and vitamin B₁, is a vitamin, an essential micronutrient for humans and animals. It is found in food and commercially synthesized to be a dietary supplement or medication. |