Vampire Diseases (#168)

Finally, the vampire fact, which is actually a medical fact.

In fact #165 I talked about the nixtamalization of corn, a process which releases the niacin (a Form of Vitamin B3) from the cell walls. A lack of this vitamin can lead to a disease called pellagra. It was common in cultures, in which corn (or sorghum) was a dietary staple and nixtamalization wasn't common practice. Pellagra has different symptoms, predominantly a skin rash due to sensitivity to sunlight. Diarrhea and psychological disturbances are common as well. Because of the sensitivity to sunlight, pellagra was a disease associated with vampire myths. However, there's another disease, which is way more vampire-like.

It's called porphyria and due to a malfunctioning in building hemoglobin, the main protein in our blood. Symptoms of porphyria include among others:

• Sensitivity to sunlight

• Red teeth and bones ("blood teeth")

• Psychotic symptoms

• Scarring of the skin e.g. leading to disfigured noses and lips

One can easily imagine, how these symptoms could have triggered wild myths about vampires and werewolves and other speculations.

By the way, some historic people are said to have suffered from porphyria. For example Mary, Queen of Scots, or – very aptly – Vlad III Dracula "The Impaler".