The evidence that pellagra was not caused by a germ primarily comes from the observation that the disease's prevalence was closely linked to diet rather than infectious transmission. Researchers, notably Dr. Joseph Goldberger, demonstrated that pellagra could be prevented and treated with a diet rich in niacin (vitamin B3) and proteins, which was lacking in the diets of those affected. Additionally, the disease did not spread in a typical infectious manner, as outbreaks were associated with specific socioeconomic conditions rather than person-to-person contact. This led to the conclusion that pellagra resulted from nutritional deficiency rather than a germ.
he knew in the south every had pellagra
Dr.Goldberger did an experiment to see what caused pellagra
Dr.Goldberger did an experiment to see what caused pellagra
The evidence was that poor people were the only ones who were getting Pellagra. Because of their poor diet.
Dr. Goldberger's hypothesis was that pellagra was a dietary deficiency disease caused by the lack of a specific nutrient in the diet, rather than being contagious or due to a germ as was previously thought. He believed that a poor diet with insufficient levels of certain nutrients, such as niacin, was the root cause of pellagra.
He put it in the newspaper
Got better when diet changed
Got better when diet changed
Joseph Goldberger, a physician in the U.S. government's Hygienic Laboratory, the predecessor of the National Institutes of Health, discovered the cause of pellagra and stepped on a number of medical toes when his research experiments showed that diet and not germs (the currently held medical theory) caused the disease.
Dr. Joseph Goldberger observed that pellagra was not contagious like infectious diseases, as it did not spread through direct contact. He also noted that certain dietary factors, such as a lack of niacin and a diet high in corn, played a role in the development of pellagra. Additionally, through experiments on prisoners, he demonstrated that a balanced diet could prevent and cure pellagra.
Pellagra can be cured by taking nicotinamide. The nicotinamide can be found in pill form and will reverse the condition of pellagra.
Pellagra is not an infectious disease. Pellagra is a nutritional deficiency disease.