Bones need calcium and phosphorus to remain healthy and strong, but the body also needs vitamin D to be able to absorb these 2 minerals. Without this necessary vitamin, bones can become soft and flexible. This softening is called osteomalacia, or rickets when diagnosed in children. The condition is called osteomalacia when the bone softening occurs after the growth plates have closed.
Rickets was a common childhood illness in North America until the 1940s, when it was discovered that vitamin D, readily available from sunlight (which produces vitamin D in the body) and vitamin D-enriched milk, prevented this condition. Although we haven’t seen many cases of rickets in North America since the mid-1900s, this condition occasionally still appears, particularly among exclusively breast-fed babies.
Rickets is still a major childhood problem in poorer, colder countries where babies are kept mainly inside the home and foods rich in vitamin D are not readily available.
Osteomalacia is a disease of bone formation. It is important to differentiate it from osteoporosis, which is a disease of bone that is already formed.
Osteomalacia is caused by a lack of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D deficiency can occur because of:
In Canada, there is a greater proportion of exclusively breast-fed Indigenous infants that are diagnosed with rickets.
Although breast milk is the ideal food for babies, this source of milk does not provide enough vitamin D to meet the baby’s needs. Most breast-fed babies should receive a vitamin D supplement unless they are already getting vitamin D from another source.
There is also a rare form of inherited osteomalacia, called hypophosphatemic rickets.
If a lack of vitamin D is causing osteomalacia, the patient will be advised to increase their vitamin D intake. Some foods rich in vitamin D are:
The doctor may prescribe a concentrated supply of vitamin D as well as a calcium supplement. The doctor or dietitian may also suggest alternative sources of vitamin D for people who are lactose intolerant or are allergic to milk.
People who are feeding their babies only breast milk or partially feeding their babies infant formula are recommended to give their babies daily vitamin D supplements. Most infant formulas in Canada are fortified with enough vitamin D to fulfill the baby’s needs if fed regularly.
People with osteomalacia may be advised to get exposure to the sun but should be careful to avoid getting sunburned. It is better to stay in the sun for short periods (10 to 15 minutes) each day rather than for longer periods less frequently. This strategy, in addition to the use of sunscreen, decreases the chance of skin damage from the sun.
Some people may require braces to help realign the affected bones. Surgery may be necessary to realign severely deformed bones.
With successful treatment, osteomalacia can be eliminated and its effects completely healed within a modest period of time (usually several months).
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Osteomalacia
Pharmasave uses cookies to provide a personalized experience, analyze traffic, improve site performance, and provide social media features. By using our site, you agree to our privacy policy.