A serious limitation of normal maize is that its protein is low in two nutritionally vital amino acids, lysine and tryptophan. Both are essential amino acids that people (and other simple- animals like poultry) must obtain from food because they cannot synthesize them for themselves. Maize is deficient in an important vitamin as well. It is low in available niacin, and bodies deficient in this B - vitamin develop pellagra (characterized by dermatitis, diarria and dementia). For this reason, therefore, any nutritious form of maize deserves special attention.