A vitamin D deficiency can cause numerous medical conditions. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, not naturally present in most foods; rather, it is added to some foods or available as a dietary supplement. Without sufficient vitamin D, your bones become thin, brittle or misshapen. The best dietary sources of vitamin D include fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, or fish liver oils.
Osteomalacia
Osteomalacia, a medical condition associated with vitamin D deficiency, means "soft bones," according to the Cleveland Clinic -- one of the top four hospitals in the United States. Osteomalacia weakens bones, causing them to break more easily. Osteomalacia is characterized by bones that break down quicker than they can rebuild, and is directly associated with insufficient vitamin D. You may be lacking vitamin D because you are not getting enough sunlight, or because you have a digestive or kidney disorder that interferes with your body's ability to absorb vitamins. Common osteomalacia symptoms include dull, aching bone pain in your lower spine, pelvis and legs, decreased muscle tone and muscle weakness in your arms and legs.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a medical condition linked to deficient amounts of vitamin D. The National Osteoporosis Foundation, or NOF, states that osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones weaken and break more easily. In some cases, even a sneeze can cause your bones to break. According to the NOF, approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 34 million are at risk for the disease. About 50 percent of all women -- and 25 percent of all men -- over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Common signs and symptoms associated with osteoporosis include severe back pain associated with a compression fracture of a vertebra or spinal bone, reduced height over time, a stooped posture and fractures of the wrist, hips and other bones. The NOF states that osteoporosis can significantly affect your activities of daily living.
Rickets
Rickets is a childhood medical condition associated with a vitamin D deficiency. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, rickets is a disorder in which your bones become soft and weak. Rickets may be caused by insufficient vitamin D, calcium or phosphate. You may not get enough vitamin D from your diet if you are lactose intolerant or have difficulty digesting milk products, do not drink milk products or consume a vegetarian diet. Common signs and symptoms associated with rickets include bone pain or tenderness in your arms, legs, pelvis and spine, dental deformities, impaired growth and short stature, increased bone fractures, muscle cramps and skeletal deformities such as bowlegs, pigeon chest and bumps in your ribcage. The UMMC states that you can prevent rickets by consuming adequate amounts of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D in your diet.
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