Nutrition and Vitamin Deficiencies · USMLE Step 1

Deficiency of which vitamin leads to pellagra, characterized by the “3 Ds”: dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia?

  1. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
  2. Vitamin B3 (niacin)
  3. Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
  4. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: Vitamin B3 (niacin)

Niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency causes pellagra with the clinical triad of dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia due to impaired NAD/NADP-dependent redox reactions.

Difficulty: Medium Question 4 of 21

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