Vitamin D and Rickets Flashcards
What caused the comeback of rickets around 1970s?
Sunscreen
What is rickets?
Inability or delay of calcification of cartilage @ growth plates of bone
Causes bony deformities, osteomalacia
What can cause rickets?
Lack of calcium+vitamin D, lack of phosphorus, or primary deficit of mineralization
Why is it difficult to measure prevalence of rickets?
Because deformities doesn’t always mean active rickets
What are other effects of Vit D deficiency?
Weakened immunity, ESP lower respiratory tract infections, hypotonia, myopathy
What condition(s) affects infants if their mother has insufficient Vit D during pregnancy?
hypocalcemia, inc risk of Type 1 Diabetes, UNPROVEN risk of colon/prostate cancer
What was it originally known as?
English disease
Effective supplementation program?
Cow’s milk, infant formula
Sources of Vit D?
UV radiation and dietary
VIt D increases absorption of which minerals?
Calcium. phosphorus
What factors affect how much Vit D3 is made in the skin?
UV-B radiation (zenith angle, latitude, season), pollution, sunscreen, exposure, melanin
Studies in Nigeria on rickets showed what?
Due to Ca deficiency, BUT serum concentrations were equal so probably other factors at play
What other hypocalcemia symptoms appear (esp in infants)
convulsions, apnoeic attacks, tremors
Treatment options?
oral vitamin D or UV radiation
single doses can be effective
best to combine with calcium supplementation
Best prevention strategies?
Fortification of milk, formula (combine with Ca sources)
