Vitamin D is often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin" because it can be synthesized in the body from the ultraviolet rays provided by the sun. Vitamin D can also be consumed in the diet, but according to "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake, most people get vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D is essential for bone health and the regulation of calcium and phosphorous. Children who do not receive enough vitamin D develop deficiencies, which leads to a disease called rickets.
Risk Factors
Children ages 3 months to 36 months are at the highest risk of developing rickets, according to MayoClinic.com. That period is a time of rapid growth and development. Vitamin D plays a vital role in growth, and needs usually increase during this time. Another risk factor is lack of sun exposure. Children who live where there is not sufficient sunlight are at increased risk of developing rickets. Inadequate dietary vitamin D also plays a role in the development of rickets.
Symptoms
One common symptom of rickets is bowed legs. The bones in children with rickets are not strong enough to hold the body weight, because they have not been properly formed with vitamin D, calcium and phosphorous. This causes the bones to soften and turn out when weight is placed on the legs when standing. In addition to bowed legs, children with rickets may have other skeletal deformities, such as abnormal spinal curvature.
Other symptoms of rickets include frequent bone fractures, delayed growth, delayed tooth formation, weak teeth, bone pain and muscle weakness.
Treatment
Correcting vitamin D deficiency can usually successfully reverse signs of rickets, according to Medline Plus. The child may be given a prescription vitamin D supplement. If the child is old enough to consume whole food, fortified cereals, orange juice and fish can be given to increase amounts of vitamin D in the body.
Complications
If rickets is left untreated, it can have severe complications. The deficiency can lead to permanent skeletal deformities and tooth defects. The child may also experience poor motor skill development and a delay in physical growth. Severe vitamin D deficiency may also even lead to seizures, according to MayoClinic.com.
Prevention
In order to ensure that a child does not develop rickets from a vitamin D deficiency, it is important to provide enough vitamin D in the diet. If a child is breast-feeding, supplements can be prescribed by a doctor to make up for any nutritional inadequacies. Older children should be given plenty of vitamin D-fortified foods. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that although sunlight is an important factor in vitamin D synthesis, children's sun exposure should be limited.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Rickets
- Medline Plus: Rickets
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Rickets
- "Nutrition and You"; Joan Salge Blake; 2008
