Your bones need calcium and phosphorus to maturate and grow strong. However, your bones cannot absorb both calcium and phosphorus efficiently by themselves; they need the assistance of vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorus. When your body lacks vitamin D, diseases of the bones can start to develop.
Symptoms of Rickets
According to MedlinePlus, rickets generally occur in children from ages 6 to 24 months. The symptoms of rickets include pain or tenderness in the bones of the arms, legs, pelvis and spine; stunted growth and increased bone fractures; skeletal deformities, such as abnormal skull development, bumps in the ribcage, protrusion of the breastbone, abnormal pelvic and spine bones, such as curved spines; dental abnormalities, such as delayed teeth eruption, abnormal structure of the teeth, holes in the enamel, increased dental cavities and weak teeth; and muscle cramps and weakness.
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis involves the loss of bone density that results in bone thinning. Osteoporosis occurs over a period of time, generally in menopausal women. MedlinePlus lists the following symptoms of osteoporosis---pain or tenderness in the bones, bone fracture resulting from minor to no injuries, shrinking in height, low back and neck pain as a result from spinal bone fractures and kyphosis, or "hunchback."
Symptoms of Osteomalacia
Osteomalacia, a bone condition, generally occurs in adults who have vitamin D deficiency. The medical community refers to this condition in children as rickets. MedlinePlus describes the symptoms of osteomalacia as softening of the bones, which can increase the susceptibility to bone fractures even from a minor injury, generalized and localized bone pain---especially in the hips---and muscle weakness.
Treatment
Dr. Michael Holick cites that individuals with vitamin D deficiency should take capsules of vitamin D with the recommendation of 50,000 IU. A change of diet to incorporate more vitamin D-rich foods, such as egg yolk, fortified milk, margarine, fish and liver, can also help you attain adequate vitamin D. Getting more sunlight exposure can stimulate your body to release vitamin D stored in body fat as well. The medical community suggests that individuals should expose their arms and legs for five to 30 minutes between 10 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon. Take precaution to not overdose on vitamin D as this could result in the development of stones in the kidneys and arteries. Due to the discrepancies of each individual's medical condition, you should consult with your health care provider about setting up a treatment plan.
References
- MedlinePlus: Rickets
- MedlinePlus: Osteoporosis
- MedlinePlus: Osteomalacia
- "The New England Journal of Medicine"; Vitamin D Deficiency; F. Michael Holick, M.D., Ph.D.; 2007
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