too much corn in diet may lead to pellagra, niacin deficiency

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tunderbar@hotmail.com - 08 Dec 2004 20:12 GMT

http://phoenity.com/diseases/pellagra.html

Pellagra

Definition
A disease caused by a deficient diet or failure of the bodyto absorb
niacin (one of the B complex vitamins) or an amino acid
(tryptophan).Common in certain parts of the world (in people
***consuming large quantities ofcorn***), the disease is characterized
by scaly skin sores, diarrhea, mucosalchanges, and mental symptoms
(especially a schizophrenia-like dementia). It maydevelop after
gastrointestinal diseases or alcoholism.

*** are mine

TC

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markd@toad-net.com - 09 Dec 2004 01:31 GMT

Yes, indians of the american southwest use a lime solution for their corn
meal to avoid this problem.

>If I remember my biochemistry right, the reason pellagra occurs in groups
>who consume a lot of corn is that the corn is their major source of
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>short, they're malnourished. Increasing the amount of corn in the diet
>of a person who isn't malnourished will *not* cause a niacin deficiency.

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Eric Bohlman - 09 Dec 2004 01:58 GMT

tunderbar@hotmail.com wrote in news:1102536737.842478.158490
@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> http://phoenity.com/diseases/pellagra.html
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> *** are mine

If I remember my biochemistry right, the reason pellagra occurs in groups
who consume a lot of corn is that the corn is their major source of
protein and corn is deficient in tryptophan. One of the more minor
metabolic pathways for tryptophan leads to nicotinic acid (a form of
niacin) and is capable of supplying about half the daily requirement of
niacin (note that "vitamin" doesn't imply "can't be synthesized by the
body at all" but merely "can't be synthesized by the body in adequate
amounts"). People whose diet has corn as its major protein source
generally don't consume many dietary sources of niacin as such. In
short, they're malnourished. Increasing the amount of corn in the diet
of a person who isn't malnourished will *not* cause a niacin deficiency.

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paperchase89@aol.com - 09 Dec 2004 07:07 GMT

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