Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient your body makes when your skin is exposed to the ultraviolet B rays from the sun. Vitamin D is an essential component in maintaining calcium absorption and maintaining the correct levels of serum calcium and phosphate. This balance is essential for proper bone mineralization and is needed for bone growth. Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets, osteomalacia, osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Rickets
Rickets is a bone disorder generally seen in children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. It can lead to the softening and weakening of bones and can cause symptoms such as skeletal deformities, dental deformities, bowlegs, decreased muscle strength and bone tenderness or pain. Children most at risk for suffering from rickets are those who are exclusively breastfed, those whose mothers are vitamin D-deficient and children who have a dark-skinned complexion. Rickets can be treated by restoring vitamin D to the proper level. Once this is done, many of the symptoms and skeletal deformities correct themselves.
Osteomalacia
Osteomalacia is known as the soft bone disease and is very similar to rickets; however, it is found in adults, most commonly in the elderly and people of South Asian origin. A deficiency in vitamin D affects the mineralization of the bones, making them weak and soft. According to Arthritis Research UK, the bone pain is most often felt in the legs, knees and feet when you stand or walk. Like rickets, osteomalacia can be treated by returning the vitamin D levels to within the optimal health range. Over time, the bone mineralization heals and the pain goes away.
Osteopenia
Osteopenia is a bone condition characterized by bone weakening and a decreased density in the bone itself. This makes the bone more susceptible to fractures and breaks. It is related to osteoporosis, but the bone loss is not as severe. It can be a precursor to osteoporosis. In August 2010, actress Gwyneth Paltrow announced that she had been diagnosed with osteopenia, and her doctors revealed to her that her vitamin D levels were the lowest they had ever seen. She was placed on a prescription dose of vitamin D and advised to spend more time in the sun.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by the loss of bone density and abnormal bone tissue that causes the bones to become easily fractured. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, simple things such as sneezing or bumping into something can cause a bone fracture. Jane Higdon, Ph.D., notes on Linus Pauling Institute website that even the smallest vitamin D deficiency can contribute to an increased risk of osteoporosis. Older individuals should have their vitamin D levels checked and discuss possible supplementation with their doctor.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- FamilyDoctor.org: Rickets: What It Is and How It's Treated
- Healthymagination; Is Gwyneth Paltrow's Osteopenia Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency?; Lisa Collier Cool; August 2010
- Arthritis Research UK: Osteomalcia (Soft Bones)
- National Osteoporosis Foundation: What Is Osteoporosis?
- Linus Pauling Institute; Preventing Osteoporosis Through Diet and Lifestyle; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; 2005
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