NIACIN DEFICIENCY

Course overview

NIACIN (VITAMIN B3) DEFICIENCY RESULTS IN A CONDITION KNOWN AS PELLAGRA. PELLAGRA INCLUDES THE TRIAD OF DERMATITIS, DEMENTIA, AND DIARRHEA AND CAN RESULT IN DEATH. IN ADDITION, NIACIN DEFICIENCY CAN OCCUR THROUGH GENETIC DISORDERS, MALABSORPTIVE CONDITIONS, AND INTERACTION WITH CERTAIN MEDICATIONS. TODAY, NIACIN DEFICIENCIES ARE UNCOMMON IN INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS PRIMARILY DUE TO SUFFICIENT DIETARY INTAKE; HOWEVER, SPECIFIC POPULATIONS REMAIN AT RISK OF THIS MOSTLY ERADICATED CONDITION. TODAY, NIACIN DEFICIENCIES ARE UNCOMMON IN INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS PRIMARILY DUE TO SUFFICIENT DIETARY INTAKE; HOWEVER, SPECIFIC POPULATIONS REMAIN AT RISK OF THIS MOSTLY ERADICATED CONDITION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF NIACIN DEFICIENCY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.