Pellagra

Pellagra-related darkened skin appears primarily around the neck, distinguishing it from acanthosis nigricans which appears in multiple body folds. In the early 1900s in the United States, more people died of pellagra than of any other single vitamin deficiency. Pellagra was a widespread dietary disease caused by niacin deficiency, not an infectious agent. European-derived cultures that adopted corn as a staple without nixtamalization developed pellagra. In the early 1900s in the United States, pellagra caused more deaths than any other single vitamin deficiency. Pellagra and acanthosis nigricans may co-occur because heavy corn product consumption also tends to disrupt blood sugar. Heavy corn product consumption can also disrupt blood sugar, so both pellagra and acanthosis nigricans may co-occur. Pellagra is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B3 (niacin). Corn contains niacin in a chemically bound, non-bioavailable form. Pellagra is caused by vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency and can mimic acanthosis nigricans with darkening particularly around the neck. Nixtamalization — soaking corn overnight in lime-alkalized water — frees bound niacin and makes it bioavailable. The US pellagra epi…