About Pellagra
Pellagra is a nutritional deficiency disease that is caused by a lack of the vitamin B3 (niacin). It is characterized by the 4 D's: dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death but there are numerous symptoms associated with the disease. Pellagra was most prevalent in the early 1900's in the Southern States in the U.S. where peoples diets mainly consisted of corn meal, pork fat and molasses. These foods lacked the vitamin niacin which was the ultimate cause for the disease.
Described in the American Journal of Nursing at the time the disease was still around, it was said that pellagra varied with the seasons [1]. Most of the cases of pellagra were reported in the spring and were at it's peak in June where almost 40% of cases occurred, and few cases occurred in the fall and winter [2]. This can be explained by the fact that most of the cases appeared in the months were peoples diets were restricted the most [3]. In fall and winter cases decreased because during these seasons it was easier to find milk and fresh vegetables, which are foods important in preventing the disease [4].
Unfortunately the cause of pellagra remained a mystery for decades as it claimed the lives of many Americans. During the time the disease was at its peak the general belief of disease was that they were either caused by some infectious agent or a germ. This lead people in the wrong direction as they searched for the cause of the disease coming up with many infectious and germ theories.
Not only did pellagra effect the lives of many people during the early 1900's, it also effected people's views on diseases and their causes. It took decades before the true cause of pellagra was accepted, mainly because people had accepted the commonly held theories of the past that had little evidence or proof. The disease also linked poverty and the importance of diet, many well respected physicians and organizations claimed for years that diet had nothing to do with the disease and that the focus should remain on preventing the spreading of the disease by finding the "infectious agent". Once it was accepted though that there was no infectious agent and pellagra could be cured by a diet consisting of niacin focus shifted on implementing this cure as well as educating the public on this new idea associated with curing a disease. It wasn't until the economy improved in the United States that the disease became a thing of the past.
Described in the American Journal of Nursing at the time the disease was still around, it was said that pellagra varied with the seasons [1]. Most of the cases of pellagra were reported in the spring and were at it's peak in June where almost 40% of cases occurred, and few cases occurred in the fall and winter [2]. This can be explained by the fact that most of the cases appeared in the months were peoples diets were restricted the most [3]. In fall and winter cases decreased because during these seasons it was easier to find milk and fresh vegetables, which are foods important in preventing the disease [4].
Unfortunately the cause of pellagra remained a mystery for decades as it claimed the lives of many Americans. During the time the disease was at its peak the general belief of disease was that they were either caused by some infectious agent or a germ. This lead people in the wrong direction as they searched for the cause of the disease coming up with many infectious and germ theories.
Not only did pellagra effect the lives of many people during the early 1900's, it also effected people's views on diseases and their causes. It took decades before the true cause of pellagra was accepted, mainly because people had accepted the commonly held theories of the past that had little evidence or proof. The disease also linked poverty and the importance of diet, many well respected physicians and organizations claimed for years that diet had nothing to do with the disease and that the focus should remain on preventing the spreading of the disease by finding the "infectious agent". Once it was accepted though that there was no infectious agent and pellagra could be cured by a diet consisting of niacin focus shifted on implementing this cure as well as educating the public on this new idea associated with curing a disease. It wasn't until the economy improved in the United States that the disease became a thing of the past.
- Vernon E. Powell, “Pellagra,” The American Journal of Nursing 31, no. 3 (1931): 267-272.
- W.H. Sebrell, “Endemic Pellagra,” The American Journal of Nursing 34, no. 12 (1934): 1153-1156
- Ibid.
- Ibid.