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  6. 2026 ICD-10-CM Code E52

2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code E52

Niacin deficiency [pellagra]

ICD-10-CM Code:
E52
ICD-10 Code for:
Niacin deficiency [pellagra]
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:

E52 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of niacin deficiency [pellagra]. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Code Classification

  • Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
    E00–E89
    • Other nutritional deficiencies
      E50-E64
      • Niacin deficiency [pellagra]
        E52

Approximate Synonyms

The following list of clinical terms are approximate synonyms, alternative descriptions, or common phrases that might be used by patients, healthcare providers, or medical coders to describe the same condition. These synonyms and related diagnosis terms are often used when searching for an ICD-10 code, especially when the exact medical terminology is unclear. Whether you're looking for lay terms, similar diagnosis names, or common language alternatives, this list can help guide you to the correct ICD-10 classification.

  • Alcoholic pellagra
  • Deficiency of isocitrate dehydrogenase
  • Dementia due to niacin deficiency
  • Dementia due to nutritional deficiency
  • Dementia due to nutritional deficiency
  • Dementia due to pellagra
  • Inadequate intake of niacin
  • Niacin deficiency
  • Niacin deficiency
  • Niacin deficiency
  • Niacin deficiency
  • Pellagra
  • Pellagra
  • Pellagra
  • Pellagra caused by drug
  • Pellagra neuropathy
  • Pellagra neuropathy
  • Polyneuropathy in pellagra
  • Thiamine and niacin deficiency

Clinical Classification

Clinical Classifications group individual ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes into broader, clinically meaningful categories. These categories help simplify complex data by organizing related conditions under common clinical themes.

They are especially useful for data analysis, reporting, and clinical decision-making. Even when diagnosis codes differ, similar conditions can be grouped together based on their clinical relevance. Each category is assigned a unique CCSR code that represents a specific clinical concept, often tied to a body system or medical specialty.

Nutritional deficiencies

CCSR Code: END007

Inpatient Default: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

Outpatient Default: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

Clinical Information

  • Pellagra

    a disease due to deficiency of niacin, a b-complex vitamin, or its precursor tryptophan. it is characterized by scaly dermatitis which is often associated with diarrhea and dementia (the three d's).

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • Niacin (-tryptophan) deficiency
  • Nicotinamide deficiency
  • Pellagra (alcoholic)

Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
  • sequelae of niacin deficiency E64.8

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Index of External Cause of Injuries

References found for this diagnosis code in the External Cause of Injuries Index:

    • Acid
      • deficiency
        • amide nicotinic
    • Acid
      • deficiency
        • nicotinic
    • Alcohol, alcoholic, alcohol-induced
      • pellagra
    • Avitaminosis(multiple)
      • B
        • with
          • pellagra
    • Avitaminosis(multiple)
      • nicotinic acid
    • Cheilosis(angular)
      • with pellagra
    • Deficiency, deficient
      • niacin (amide) (-tryptophan)
    • Deficiency, deficient
      • nicotinamide
    • Deficiency, deficient
      • nicotinic acid
    • Deficiency, deficient
      • vitamin (multiple) NOS
        • B (complex) NOS
          • with
            • pellagra
    • Deficiency, deficient
      • vitamin (multiple) NOS
        • nicotinic
    • Deficiency, deficient
      • vitamin (multiple) NOS
        • PP (pellagra-preventing)
    • Dementia(degenerative (primary)) (persisting) (unspecified severity) (without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety)
      • in (due to)
        • niacin deficiency
    • Dementia(degenerative (primary)) (persisting) (unspecified severity) (without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety)
      • in (due to)
        • niacin deficiency
          • with behavioral disturbance
    • Dementia(degenerative (primary)) (persisting) (unspecified severity) (without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety)
      • in (due to)
        • pellagra
    • Dementia(degenerative (primary)) (persisting) (unspecified severity) (without behavioral disturbance, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety)
      • in (due to)
        • pellagra
          • with behavioral disturbance
    • Dermatitis(eczematous)
      • pellagrous
    • Encephalopathy(acute)
      • pellagrous
    • Erythema, erythematous(infectional) (inflammation)
      • endemic
    • Gingivitis
      • pellagrous
    • Glossitis(chronic superficial) (gangrenous) (Moeller's)
      • pellagrous
    • Niacin(amide) deficiency
    • Nicotinic acid deficiency
    • Pellagra(alcoholic)
    • Pellagra(alcoholic)
      • with
        • polyneuropathy
    • Polioencephalopathy, superior hemorrhagic
      • with
        • pellagra
    • Polyneuropathy(peripheral)
      • in (due to)
        • pellagra
    • Syndrome
      • pellagroid

Convert E52 to ICD-9-CM

Below are the ICD-9 codes that most closely match this ICD-10 code, based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs). This ICD-10 to ICD-9 crosswalk tool is helpful for coders who need to reference legacy diagnosis codes for audits, historical claims, or approximate code comparisons.

Pellagra

ICD-9-CM: 265.2

This is a direct match with no additional mapping qualifiers. The absence of a flag generally means the mapping is considered exact or precise. In other words, the ICD-10 code maps cleanly to the ICD-9 code without qualification, approximation, or needing multiple codes.

View Conversion

Patient Education


B Vitamins

The B vitamins are:

  • B1 (thiamine)
  • B2 (riboflavin)
  • B3 (niacin)
  • B5 (pantothenic acid)
  • B6
  • B7 (biotin)
  • B12
  • Folic acid

These vitamins help the process your body uses to get or make energy from the food you eat. They also help form red blood cells. You can get B vitamins from proteins such as fish, poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy products. Leafy green vegetables, beans, and peas also have B vitamins. Many cereals and some breads have added B vitamins.

Not getting enough of certain B vitamins can cause diseases. A lack of B12 or B6 can cause anemia.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Malnutrition

What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition means that your body isn't getting enough calories or the right balance of nutrients to stay healthy. This can happen if you don't get enough protein, carbohydrates, and fats, eat too much unhealthy food, or don't get the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Malnutrition can affect people of all ages, but children, older adults, and people with chronic (long-term) health problems have a higher risk.

What are the types of malnutrition?

Most people think of undernutrition with malnutrition. But malnutrition can refer to undernutrition, overnutrition, or an imbalance of nutrients.

Types of malnutrition include:

  • Protein-energy undernutrition, also called macronutrient undernutrition, happens when your body doesn't get enough protein or calories from food. Two serious forms of this are kwashiorkor and marasmus.
  • An imbalanced nutritional status occurs when you are not getting the right mix of nutrients. You may get enough calories, but not enough vitamins or minerals.
  • Vitamin deficiency diseases happen when your body doesn't get enough of certain vitamins. Without the right vitamins, your body cannot stay healthy and may develop specific diseases. For example, scurvy can develop from too little vitamin C, rickets from too little vitamin D, and anemia from too little iron or vitamin B12.
  • Failure to thrive occurs when children don't gain weight or grow as expected. This may be due to not getting enough food, trouble absorbing nutrients, or other health problems.
  • Overnutrition can occur when your body gets too many calories or nutrients. This may lead to obesity or other health issues.

What causes malnutrition?

Malnutrition may occur for many reasons, including:

  • An unbalanced diet that lacks variety or specific nutrients.
  • Some medical issues, which could include malabsorption syndromes, dementia, eating disorders, depression, alcohol use disorder (AUD), or cancer.
  • Problems with swallowing, digestion, or dental issues.
  • Certain medicines that affect how food tastes and smells.
  • Not being able to get food or cook due to things such as chronic illness, mobility issues, or low income.

Who is at risk for developing malnutrition?

Malnutrition can affect anyone, but some people have a higher risk than others. This includes people who:

  • Don't have enough knowledge about nutrition
  • Don't have access to a variety of food
  • Are older adults or children
  • Have a low income
  • Have a chronic (long-term) illness

What are the symptoms of malnutrition?

The symptoms of malnutrition can vary. You may have no symptoms, but if you do, they may include:

  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Low body weight
  • Slow growth or development in children
  • Frequent infections or slow healing
  • Dry skin or brittle hair and nails
  • Swelling in the legs, feet, or belly

How is malnutrition diagnosed?

To check for malnutrition, your provider may:

  • Do a nutritional screening, which may include questions about weight loss, changes in your appetite, and your ability to eat.
  • Do a physical exam and order blood tests to check for signs that you don't have enough nutrients.
  • Refer you to other providers that specialize in nutrition, such as a dietician.

What are the treatments for malnutrition?

Treatment for malnutrition may include improving your diet, replacing missing nutrients, and treating the underlying cause.

Can malnutrition be prevented?

To help prevent malnutrition, eat a healthy diet with many different foods. Talk with your provider if you are worried about your diet, weight loss, or your child's growth.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2026 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2025 through 9/30/2026
  • FY 2025 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2024 through 9/30/2025
  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.