Rickets and Osteomalacia: Preventable disorders

Softening of bones and associated bone deformities in infants and children are termed as rickets. It has been well established that rickets is a bone disorder caused by lack of vitamin D. A similar disorder among adults is known as osteomalacia. The vitamin D is an activated form of pro vitamin D. The activation of pro vitamin D to form vitamin D is caused by the ultraviolet radiation of the sunlight. So, sufficient exposure to sunlight is must to prevent rickets in infants & children and osteomalacia in adults. However, only adequate exposure to sunlight would not be helpful to avoid rickets or osteomalacia if our diet does not contain adequate amount of vitamin D and calcium. High incidence of rickets is common amongst malnourished children. Etiopathological factors are responsible for rickets the world over. The vitamin D as such is not biologically active vitamin. There are no specific sources of vitamin D in our diet except some species of fish, egg yoke and butter. Infants and children should regularly be supplemented with vitamin D and calcium along with sunbath to avoid risk of developing rickets.