Rickets

Rickets is a disease that affects bone structure, resulting in soft and weakened bones and is particularly damaging to the weight-bearing bones in the legs, spine, and pelvis. A similar disease process occurs in adults and is known as osteomalacia, or simply soft bones. Rickets is most commonly caused by a deficiency in vitamin D but can also be caused by calcium or phosphate deficiencies. Vitamin D is necessary for calcium and phosphorus metabolism and protects against the effects of mild calcium deficiency. Because calcium is found in high concentrations in milk products and tofu, and phosphate is found in high concentrations in green vegetables, rickets is rare in countries with moderate to high intake of these foods. However, rickets due to calcium or phosphate ...