Nutritional influences of pellagra on sebum composition

Sebum composition has been measured in 51 patients with varying degrees of pellagra and compared with a control group of subjects in the same geographic area. In the pellagra group the wax ester percentage was 14-9 versus the normal of 21-9%. The squalene percentage was increased in the pellagra group (11-6%) versus a control value of 8-4%. A small increase in the percentage of cholesterol was also noted. These changes, which previously have been observed in starved but otherwise normal subjects, were reversible with adequate refeeding.