A Test of Diet in the Prevention of Pellagra

Joseph Goldberger's research on the prevention of pellagra

“…Thus, the strength of the association was the first criterion used to conclude that pellagra recurrences could 'be prevented without the intervention of any other factor than diet'. 6 The conclusion in the 1923 paper was stronger: 'The idea that pellagra is a communicable disease receives no support from this study. Pellagra may be completely prevented by diet.'…”

“…6 The two orphanages were referred to as 'MJ' and 'BJ'. During the summer of 1914 up to 15 September, orphanage MJ had had 79 cases and orphanage BJ 130 cases of pellagra.…”

“…This was impracticable at the orphanages'. 6 They therefore collected data from 'other similar institutions' and found recurrence rates between 58% and 75%. Having chosen a conservative estimate of expected recurrence of 50%, they concluded that they should have observed 33 recurrences at orphanage MJ and 52 at orphanage BJ.…”

“…6 It was originally intended to make a detailed presentation of the study on its completion; but the published results of the first year by White (White RG. Report on an outbreak of pellagra amongst Armenian refugees at Port Said, 1916Said, -1917 To my knowledge, Goldberger's biographers have not commented on this six-year delay to publication.…”

“…Goldberger and his colleagues noted that the disease affected only children between 6 and 12 years of age and observed that 'after a detailed inquiry, the only explanation that could be found for the remarkable restriction of the disease to this group was a difference in the diet of the resident groups'. 6 Their diet was poor in lean meat or other animal protein food.…”