2025 – PAGE 222 – VITAMIN AND NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS
WATER-SOLUBLE NUTRIENTS
MNEMONIC: The following inappropriate humor should help you remember the names of the water-soluble B vitamins:
- The Really Nasty Prince’s Booty Farted Constantly!
- Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pyridoxine (B6), Biotin (B7), Folate (B9), and Cyanocobalamin (B12)
THIAMINE (B1) DEFICIENCY
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency can result in WET BERIBERI (a type of high output cardiac failure due to peripheral vasodilation). It can also result in various neurologic symptoms, including ataxia, delirium/encephalopathy, neuropathy, and nystagmus (called WERNICKE ENCEPHALOPATHY). Wernicke’s can eventually lead to Korsakoff Syndrome.
RIBOFLAVIN (B2) DEFICIENCY
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) deficiency can result in anemia, angular stomatitis=cheilosis, glossitis (“tongue = riboFLAVor”), and seborrheic dermatitis.
PEARL: Phototherapy can result in decreased riboflavin (B2) levels. Keep this in mind with premature hyperbilirubinemic children.
MNEMONIC: Imagine that the drawing below represents a premature baby with protective glasses on (for phototherapy). The lenses have “2” written on them to remind you of the B2 deficiency. There is a rash at the scalp (seborrheic dermatitis), and there are steep angles at the edges of the lips to remind you of angular stomatitis. He’s bleeding from the angles of his mouth to help you remember the possible anemia.
NIACIN (B3) DEFICIENCY
Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency results in PELLAGRA, which is identified by a constellation of findings including diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia. The condition is often found in communities in which corn is a cornerstone of the diet.
IMAGE: www.pbrlinks.com/NIACINDEFICIENCY1
MNEMONICS: NIAcin deficiency results in pellagra. From now on, refer to pellagra as peNIAgra to help you remember it is associated with a NIAcin deficiency. Also, remember that a corNIAgra diet often leads to this. The “3 D’s of Pellagra” are Diarrhea, Dermatitis and Dementia. Try saying “Piarrhea, Permatitis, and Pementia” instead.
(NAME ALERT) HARTNUP DISEASE (AKA PELLAGRA-LIKE DERMATOSIS): This is NOT a vitamin deficiency. It is a disorder of neutral amino acid transport and absorption, particularly tryptophan. Patients present with what looks like the 3 D’s of Pellagra (diarrhea, dementia, dermatitis).