Osteomalacia is the significant or remarkable softening of bones that causes the bowing of legs and is majorly caused by a deficiency of vitamins.
An article published in paediatrics and neonatology journal investigated the relationship between deficiency and insufficiency of nutritional vitamin D and osteomalacia, osteoporosis, immunological diseases, etc. it is seen that 96% of children who are breastfed are vitamin D deficient as the mother feed doesn't contain enough vitamin D. Moreover, the requirement of vitamin D varies with age like 0-6 months baby must take 400 IU of vitamin D and 200mg/day of calcium.
Up to 18
years 600 IU/day. The American academy of pediatrics (2008) considered severe
deficiency if children's vitamin D is <5 ng/ml. However, the significant
risk factor is malnutrition in children. Individuals who are malnutrition due
to insufficient dietary intake or some eating disorders are more prone to
osteomalacia.
The article is an authentic source as it is published in a renowned
pediatric and neonatology journal. All the articles that have been published in
this journal are highly acknowledged. Moreover, the head author and co-authors
work in gastroenterology and nutrition at Taiwan hospital's medicine
department and the pediatrics department.
The major causes of vitamin-D deficiency published in several articles are poor nutrition or malnutrition that lacks desired quantity of vitamin D, poor absorption in the body due to hormonal imbalance, the person taking certain medicines that hinder the absorption, liver or kidneys being unable to convert vitamin d in its active form, the person is not getting enough exposure to sunlight. These are the reasons that are usually seen in ordinary people having no significant past medical and surgical history.
Some people at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency are infants breastfeeding as human milk doesn't provide enough vitamin D to infants, and older adults as the capacity. Researchers have confirmed that in various comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer, sclerosis, and autoimmune disorders, the deficiency of calcium ions and vitamin D is a leading cause.
The sources from where we can get vitamin D are eggs, cheese, beef liver, fish meat, mushrooms, dairy products, cereals, orange juice, milk, etc. Supplements and liquids can overcome vitamin D deficiency in babies. Still, the dosage must be regulated because excessive vitamin D supplements can cause a harmful condition known as vitamin D toxicity.
The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, confusion, and disorientation because of hypercalcemia, as more vitamin D levels lead to higher levels of calcium in the blood, known as hypercalcemia. It also disturbs the heart's regular rhythms, known as cardiac arrhythmia.
This must be clear that excessive consumption of dairy products or prolonged sun exposure can not lead to vitamin D toxicity because, in this case, our body can maintain levels and limit anything produced in excess.
So, one must be aware not to take supplements without a doctor's prescription and try a balanced diet to avoid mineral and vitamin deficiency because prevention is better than cure.
