Pellagra develops when the body does not have an adequate amount of tryptophan or niacin. Tryptophan is useful to the body in processing food. The deficiency is known to develop in an individual in case he fails to intake tryptophan or niacin the diet. There are primarily two kinds of pellagra which are referred to as primary pellagra and secondary pellagra.
Symptoms of pellagra
Here are a few of the common symptoms of pellagra:
Diarrhea
Gastrointestinal problems
Poor appetite
Abdominal pain
Troubles while eating
nausea
indigestion
malnutrition
rashes on the skin with a clear edge
Brownish or reddish skin
Itching
symmetrical rash
flaky or scaly skin
Bright red tongue
Swollen mouth
Canker sores
depression
confusion
irritability
Causes of pellagra
Here are a few of the causes of pellagra:
Chronic diarrhea
Liver cirrhosis
Alcoholism
Carcinoid tumours
GI tuberculosis
Gastrointestinal issues like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, GI tuberculosis
Carcinoid tumours
Remedies for pellagra
Here are a few natural remedies that are useful for the treatment of pellagra:
Intaking niacin supplements
Niacin supplements are considered to be a prerequisite in order to treat pellagra. It is recommended to intake less than 2000 mg of niacin supplements daily. You may notice rashes or skin flushing on the upper parts of the body or face, post to taking the supplement. It is referred to as niacin flush and is usually temporary and harmless.
Treating diarrhea
In case you are suffering from diarrhea which is related to pellagra, you need to opt for natural remedies for the prevention of diarrhea. You should intake tea, water and coconut water with an eye to restore the fluid, and for the replacement of the electrolytes. You should also consume the BRAT diet for some time which should be inclusive of rice, bananas, toast, and applesauce. In addition to this, it is necessary to include a wide assortment of food products, having fibre in the diet. Such food products include fruit, whole grains, and vegetables.
Say no to certain food products
It is recommended to avoid specific food items that may worsen the conditions of diarrhea in people. Few of the food products which are prohibited for people, suffering from pellagra are inclusive of caffeine, added sugar, processed sugar, dairy products, alcohol, carbonated drinks, etc.
Intake a diet, filled with tryptophan and niacin
Wide arrays of people can intake tryptophan and niacin in the form of a healthy diet. In order to include niacin in the diet, you should be intaking food items, enriched in niacin. These food items which are considered to be the prime sources of niacin are inclusive of eggs, milk, liver, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, peas, rice, avocado, legumes, enriched grains, leafy green vegetables, brewer's yeast, lean meat, poultry, fish, etc. Food products, having tryptophan in high content are inclusive of cheese like romano, mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, nuts, seeds, shellfish, turkey, chicken, salmon, halibut, trout, rockfish, tuna, lentils, beans, buckwheat, uncooked oats, wheat bran, etc.
