Pellagra is disease also known as niacin deficiency.

Most often causes of Pellagra are:

• chronic alcoholism
• malnutrition
• multiple vitamin deficiencies

Niacin deficiency can cause following disease conditions:

• dermatitis
• diarrhoea
• dementia

Most common symptoms of niacin deficiency are:

• rash on skin (thick, scaly, darkly)
• burning mouth, bright red tongue, mouth sores

Niacin dosage is defined in RDA by Institute of Medicine(IOM).
The recommended dietary intake (RDA) of niacin is:

• 19 mg/day for adult males
• 13 mg/day for adult females
• 15 mg/day for pregnant
• 18 mg/day for lactating females

Niacin dose should be taken as 2-3 daily doses.

Following products are good sources of Niacin (Vitamin B3)

Animal products:

• eggs
• beef
• milk
• fish (salmon, tuna, swordfish)
• chicken
• liver
• heart
• kidney
• pork
• turkey

Vegetative sources:

Intake of large niacin (Vitamin B3) doses can cause:

• Liver damage (75 mg or more)
• Peptic ulcers
• Flushing
• Gout
• Tingling skin
• Skin rashes
• Low blood pressure
• Diabetes-like symptoms
• Glucose tolerance (very large doses above 3 g/day)

Niacin also called Vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid is water-soluble vitamin.

Niacin is essential for energy metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, DNA repair, functioning of the nervous system, healthy skin, removing toxic chemicals, production of steroid hormones.

It was discovered in 1937 by Conrad Elvehjem.