Certain minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are important for making your bones. Your bones are dynamic structures, which means that bone tissue is continuously broken down and rebuilt. Disorders that interfere with the absorption of dietary calcium can lead to a condition known as rickets. One common cause of rickets is a lack of vitamin D.
Vitamin D and Bones
One of the main functions of vitamin D is to trigger the absorption of calcium by the gut. Without adequate vitamin D, the intestines will not absorb enough calcium to keep the bones strong. Vitamin D is also important for the function of the cells that make and break down bones. Vitamin D can be obtained from your diet, but it is also naturally produced by your skin in response to ultraviolet light.
Causes
Vitamin D-deficient rickets results when you do not have enough vitamin D in your bloodstream to maintain adequate calcium levels. Vitamin D is often found in dairy products, so if you are lactose intolerant or follow a vegan diet you may not get enough vitamin D, PubMed Health warns. People who have gastrointestinal problems that impair their ability to digest fats are also at an increased risk of developing rickets. Vitamin D-deficient rickets can also occur in people who do not get much exposure to sunlight. Infants who are only breastfed may also develop this condition.
Symptoms
Rickets is most common in children who are undergoing rapid growth, as it is during this time that the body's need for calcium is highest. Vitamin D-deficient rickets can cause pain in the spine, pelvis and legs, delayed growth, short stature and muscle weakness. A vitamin D deficiency can also cause skeletal deformities, such as bowed legs, an abnormally curved spine, increased projection of the breast bone and thickened ankles and wrists, the Mayo Clinic states.
Treatment
If you have vitamin D-deficient rickets, adding more vitamin D to your diet or increasing your exposure to ultraviolet light will reduce many of your symptoms. Your blood levels of calcium should return to normal after approximately one week. If the underlying cause of vitamin D-deficient rickets is not corrected while a child is still growing, the deformities and short stature may be permanent; early treatment can minimize or totally correct these abnormalities.
