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Noun: pellagra  pi'la-gru
  1. A disease caused by deficiency of niacin or tryptophan (or by a defect in the metabolic conversion of tryptophan to niacin); characterized by gastrointestinal disturbances and erythema and nervous or mental disorders; may be caused by malnutrition or alcoholism or other nutritional impairments
    - Alpine scurvy, mal de la rosa, mal rosso, maidism, mayidism, Saint Ignatius' itch

Derived forms: pellagras

Type of: avitaminosis, hypovitaminosis

Encyclopedia: Pellagra