Question

Kevin was a participant in a clinical study to determine how much niacin cures pellagra, the niacin deficiency disease. During the study, he consumed only a formula diet that was deficient in niacin. After developing pellagra, he was given 2 mg of niacin a day for 2 weeks, but he still suffered from the disease, so the scientists added 2 mg of the vitamin to Kevin's formula. By the beginning of the 5th week of the study, the researchers noticed that Kevin's signs and symptoms were greatly improved. At the end of the 5th week, he was feeling fine. The researchers concluded thata. Kevin's niacin requirement was about 4 mg a day.

b. the RDA for niacin should be 4 mg.
c. the AI for niacin should be 4 mg plus 60 mg as a margin of safety.
d. Kevin's daily value for niacin was 4 mg a day.

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is option A.

KELVIN'S NIACIN REQUIREMENT WAS ABOUT 4MG A DAY.

Oweing to the fact that a Niacin dose of 2mg couldn't relieve Kelvin of his Pellagra presenting signs and symptoms till the dosage was increased to 4mg before obvious and remarkable improvement was seen,this indicates that Kelvin need a daily requirement of 4mg of Niacin inorder not to be deficient of Niacin and as well live a pallegra free life.

Niacin deficiency is a condition that occurred when an individual doesn't get enough of Niacin or can't absorb the available Niacin when taken into the body or tryptophan (Niacin amino acid precursor).

Pallegra is a systemic disease that occurs as a result of marked cellular deficiency in Niacin. it is characterised by diarrhea, dermatitis,dementia, and death.

Certain foods are rich in Niacin example; animal products like meat,fish and poultry.

Niacin can also be sourced from avocado,peanuts,whole grains, mushroom, green pees and potatoes.