Noun: pellagra pi'la-gru
- A disease caused by deficiency of niacin or tryptophan (or by a defect in the metabolic conversion of tryptophan to niacin); characterized by gastrointestinal disturbances and erythema and nervous or mental disorders; may be caused by malnutrition or alcoholism or other nutritional impairments
"Pellagra was common in populations with corn-based diets lacking niacin";
- mal de la rosa, mal rosso, maidism, mayidism, Saint Ignatius' itch
Derived forms: pellagras
Type of: avitaminosis, hypovitaminosis
Encyclopedia: Pellagra