Rickets

What is rickets?

This is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, which results in weakening and softening of the bones. As a result the bones, especially in the leg, may develop an abnormal shape as they struggle to carry the weight of the body, and are certainly at risk of breaking easily. A diet poor in calcium aggravates the problem because this essential bone-building mineral is needed to keep bones strong.

In children vitamin D deficiency is called rickets; in adults it's known as osteomalacia.

Causes and risk factors

While rickets was once almost eradicated by improvements in diet and health, it is now making a comeback due to a variety of factors:

• A sofa-slob culture where children spend less time running around outside exposed to daylight (the main source of vitamin D)
• Excessive covering of the skin because of warnings about skin cancer or ethnic and religious codes about dress, which force people (especially women) to cover up
• Junk food diets
• An increase in the number of children following vegan and probiotic diets (where calcium deficiency is a risk if the diet isn’t carefully organised)

Treatment and recovery

Bones need calcium to make them strong. However, to absorb calcium (for example from dairy food, fortified bread and cereals) the body also needs vitamin D.

Some of the vitamin D we need comes from our diet. Few foods actually contain vitamin D but those such as fish, eggs and milk are quite a good source. The body also manufactures vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight.

Children who are deficient in vitamin D may not grow to their full potential and they sometimes have knock-knees or bowed legs. Adults may suffer pain in the bones and have difficulty climbing stairs or getting up from a squatting position.

This condition, and the potential problems described above, can be prevented and treated by eating a diet with enough vitamin D and ensuring the skin gets an adequate exposure to sunlight.

This should be for about 20 minutes each day and at times when the sun's not at its most harmful - that is, not between 11am and 3pm. In severe cases of rickets, calcium supplements or vitamin D injections may sometimes be required. After treatment, however, most people fully recover.