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ShareOsteomalacia, also known as rickets, is among the most frequent childhood diseases in developing countries.
The predominant cause is a vitamin D deficiency, but lack of adequate calcium in the diet may also lead to rickets.
Although it can occur in adults, the majority of cases occur in children suffering from severe malnutrition, usually resulting from famine or starvation during the early stages of childhood.
Vitamin D is required for proper calcium absorption from the gut.
In the absence of vitamin D, dietary calcium is not properly absorbed, resulting in hypocalcemia, leading to skeletal and dental deformities and neuromuscular symptoms, e.g.
hyperexcitability.
For more information about the topic Rickets, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Vitamin D — Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone precursor that contributes to the maintenance of normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the ... > read more
Micronutrient — Micronutrients are essential elements needed by life in small quantities. They include microminerals and Vitamins.
Microminerals or trace elements ... > read more
Vitamin — A vitamin is an organic molecule required by a living organism in minute amounts for proper health. In general, an organism must obtain vitamins or ... > read more
Malnutrition — Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient diet. It most often refers to undernutrition resulting ... > read moreEditor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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