pellagra

noun
pel·​la·​gra | \ pə-ˈla-grə How to pronounce pellagra (audio) , -ˈlā- How to pronounce pellagra (audio) , -ˈlä- How to pronounce pellagra (audio) \

Definition of pellagra

: a disease marked by dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorders, and mental disturbances and associated with a diet deficient in niacin

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Other Words from pellagra

pellagrous \ pə-​ˈla-​grəs How to pronounce pellagrous (audio) , -​ˈlā-​ , -​ˈlä-​ \ adjective

Examples of pellagra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Malnutrition, pellagra, hookworm, and other parasites were ubiquitous. Kevin Baker, Harper's magazine, "Where Our New World Begins," 10 May 2019 One of Zuckerman’s graduate students inspected cross-sections of bones to find evidence of pellagra, or vitamin B deficiency. Washington Post, "Estimated 7,000 bodies may be buried at former asylum," 23 May 2018 When the first hamster in the group cannibalized its litter, Tissier worried that pellagra was another false lead. Ben Crair, Smithsonian, "Why Are These Hamsters Cannibalizing Their Young?," 21 Feb. 2018 After six months, all of the prisoners had developed pellagra. Ben Crair, Smithsonian, "Why Are These Hamsters Cannibalizing Their Young?," 21 Feb. 2018 Doctors quickly eradicated pellagra in the United States and Europe with vitamin B3 supplements and balanced diets. Ben Crair, Smithsonian, "Why Are These Hamsters Cannibalizing Their Young?," 21 Feb. 2018 But once researchers discovered the B3 connection and regulations required the vitamin B3, also known as niacin, be added to corn meal, the pellagra outbreaks stopped. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Diet Deficiency Can Lead to Cannibal Hamsters," 2 Feb. 2017 Beriberi and pellagra also both caused mental instability and personality changes. National Geographic, "A Nightmare Disease Haunted Ships During Age of Discovery," 15 Jan. 2017 Another study looked at the possibility of pellagra, a vitamin B deficiency that leads to dementia, in the patients. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Thousands of Bodies Rest Under the University of Mississippi Medical Center Campus," 9 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pellagra.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of pellagra

circa 1811, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for pellagra

Italian, from pelle skin (from Latin pellis) + -agra (as in podagra, from Latin)

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More Definitions for pellagra

pellagra

noun
pel·​la·​gra | \ pə-ˈla-grə How to pronounce pellagra (audio) , -ˈlā-\

Kids Definition of pellagra

: a disease caused by a diet containing too little protein and too little of a necessary vitamin

pellagra

noun
pel·​la·​gra | \ pə-ˈlag-rə How to pronounce pellagra (audio) , -ˈlāg- How to pronounce pellagra (audio) , -ˈläg- How to pronounce pellagra (audio) \

Medical Definition of pellagra

: a disease marked by dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorders, mental disturbance, and memory loss and associated with a diet deficient in niacin and protein — compare kwashiorkor

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