Fear Of Pellagra

The fear of Pellagra is known as Pellagraphobia. If you fear this serious vitamin deficiency, which occurs when there is too little niacin in the human body, you may develop persistent anxiety that affects your daily life. By learning about the history, causes, and treatments of this disorder, you can better understand your phobia.

What Is Pellagra?

Pellagra is a vitamin deficiency caused by lack of niacin or amino acids. It has very serious consequences. It can cause terrible symptoms, such as dementia, dermatitis and rashes, aggression, and diarrhea. When they body fails to get a needed dose of niacin, it begins a tailspin that may result in the onset of the disease.

A “Maize” Diet Can Cause Pellagra

In cultures where corn is a staple of the diet, pellagra is more commonly found. Corn is very low in niacin, and needs a special fortifying process known as Nixtamalization in order to make it more nutritious. In poor countries where access to Nixtamalization is rare, more cases of Pellagra occur. In order to fortify corn, lime is added, thereby offering niacin to consumers. This lessens incidences of pellagra.

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Poverty Is A Factor

In the Western world, Pellagra is found among members of the indigent population. They may not have access to proper foodstuffs, and they become ill from malnutrition. Those who live on the streets and suffer from mental illness, alcoholism, or drug abuse may have difficulty sustaining proper eating habits. In the rest of the developed world, among typical, working members of society, the ailment is rare indeed. However, prisoners in harsh labor camps have suffered from the disorder.

Amino Acids And Pellagra

Pellagra can also occur due to insufficient levels of tryptophan, an amino acid common in protein foods. If someone does not have access to meats, poultry, and other sources of this amino acid, Pellagra may result.

Poverty and Pellagra remain intertwined. In countries such as India, Africa, and China, the disease still afflicts people who cannot gain access to the needed plant and animal foods. Diets of maize or other, niacin-weak foods, leave them susceptible to the disease, which can kill in 4-5 years if left untreated. The terrible symptoms of Pellagra are easily avoided, but world hunger and politics play their roles in extending the life span of this terrible deficiency.

Today, people in developed countries need not have Pellagraphobia. Education about proper nutrition and the importance of vitamins makes it easy to avoid the disease. Sometimes, people who read medical histories and information about the disease may become phobic, due to the gruesome symptoms and they suffering they cause. People who work with the poor or in undeveloped countries may witness the sadness and illness of those with Pellagra, and develop the phobia.

There is good reason for those who subsist on a corn-based diet to fear the disease, which may run rampant in their villages. They have even more reason to be afraid if they have no access to help from their government or charities. This disease is not contagious, it is diet-based. It can be reversed with proper nutrition. But, if there is no money for food and no way to get important vitamins and amino acids, there is real reason to be frightened of this debilitating condition.

Symptoms Of Pellagraphobia

People who fear Pellagra may develop heart palpitations and anxiety when they are around people who have the disorder. They may be afraid of “catching” Pellagra, even though the disease does not work that way. Irrational fears about diet and vitamins may become compulsive in those with Pellagraphobia. They may even avoid corn as it is always associated with Pellagra.

Treatment Of Pellagraphobia

Treatment for this phobia should include therapy and education about the causes of Pellagra. Medical and psychological checkups are recommended.