According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin D is found in two forms that are important for human health -- D2 and D3. Vitamin D2 is also known as ergocalciferol and is found in plants. Vitamin D3 is known as cholecalciferol and is made in the skin in response to exposure to the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. Both forms are found in foods labeled "Vitamin D Fortified." Adequate amounts of the vitamin are essential for balancing the body's use of the minerals calcium and phosphate.
Rickets in Children
The Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health says rickets is a childhood disease characterized by improper development of the bones. Because vitamin D plays an important part in helping the body to absorb calcium from the gastrointestinal tract, inadequate levels result in bones that are soft from lack of calcium. While rickets is a rare disease in the United States, the following conditions increase a child's risk of developing the disease: having dark skin, relying exclusively on breast milk without vitamin supplementation, spending significant amounts of time indoors and/or extensive use of sunscreens. Certain genetic and metabolic abnormalities may also contribute to a child's risk of developing rickets, the Mayo Clinic says.
Osteomalacia
Osteomalacia is a medical condition that affects adults and is similar to rickets. MedLine Plus says osteomalacia is a softening of the bones due to calcium deficiency. People who do not get adequate amounts of vitamin D or have some metabolic problem that prevents the body from properly using vitamin D are at risk of developing osteomalacia because vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption. Symptoms of osteomalacia include widespread bone pain, muscle weakness and bones that fracture easily.
Osteoporosis
The Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health says long-term deficiency in calcium and vitamin D leads to the development of osteoporosis in late adult life. Many older adults do not consume adequate amounts of calcium for the proper maintenance of bone strength, but failure to consume enough vitamin D also contributes because it affects the absorption of calcium. Osteoporosis is characterized by bones that are brittle, weak and easily fractured.
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