Pellagra in South Africa from 1897 to 2019: a scoping review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Pellagra is a nutritional deficiency disease associated with niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency. The history of pellagra is well documented for Europe and the USA, but less is known about the prevalence in sub-Saharan African countries. This study documents the history of pellagra in South Africa, as diagnosed based on dermatological symptoms.

Design

Scoping review of information from scientific databases, library archives, other archives and record services and from Statistics South Africa.

Setting

South Africa, 1897-2019.

Participants

South African.

Results

Pellagra was first officially recorded in South Africa in 1906, but there are earlier indications of the disease. The prevalence of pellagra peaked after it was all but eradicated in the USA a

SUBMITTER: Viljoen M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10195426 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature