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Deficiency
When can vitamin D deficiency occur?
Nutrient deficiencies are usually the result of dietary inadequacy, impaired absorption and utilization, increased requirement, or increased excretion (loss). A deficiency of vitamin D can occur when:
• intake is below recommended levels
• there is limited exposure to sunlight
• the kidney cannot convert vitamin D to its active hormone form
• someone cannot adequately absorb vitamin D from the digestive tract
Vitamin D deficient diets are associated with milk allergy, lactose intolerance, and strict vegetarianism. Infants fed only breast milk also receive insufficient amounts of vitamin D unless they also receive appropriate levels of vitamin D supplementation.
The classic vitamin D deficiency diseases are rickets and osteomalacia. Rickets is a bone disease characterized by a failure to properly mineralize bone tissue. Rickets results in soft bones and skeletal deformities. The most common causes of rickets are vitamin D deficiency from a vitamin D deficient diet, lack of sunlight, or both. The recommendation to fortify milk with vitamin D made rickets a rare disease in the U.S. for many years. However, rickets has recently reemerged, in particular among African American infants and children.
Prolonged exclusive breastfeeding without vitamin D supplementation is one of the most significant causes of the reemergence of rickets. Additional causes include extensive use of sunscreens and increased use of day-care, resulting in decreased outdoor activity and sun exposure among children.
Rickets is more prevalent among people from Asia, Africa, and Middle Eastern countries. People from these regions are also more likely to follow dress codes that limit sun exposure.
In adults, vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, which results in muscular weakness in addition to weak bones. Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness may indicate vitamin D deficiency, but symptoms may be subtle and go undetected in the initial stages.
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PURCHASE |
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Why Are America’s Bones Shrinking
by Thomas G. Kotronis, Rph |
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