Rickets Vitamins and Minerals Nutrition and Metabolism Disorders

Rickets Vitamins and Minerals Nutrition and Metabolism Disorders

Rickets, nutritional disorder characterized by skeletal deformities. Rickets is caused by a decreased concentration of the mineral hydroxyapatite in bones and cartilage due to low levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Vitamin D is essential for the maintenance of normal calcium and phosphorus levels. Classic rickets, a deficiency disease of children characterized by improper development or hardening of bones, is due to lack of sufficient vitamin D in the diet, or to insufficient ultraviolet radiation from direct sunlight, a lack that prevents conversion of the element 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin to vitamin D. The type of skeletal deformities depends largely on the child's age when the vitamin-D deficiency occurs. A child who has not yet learned to walk develops vertebral curvatures; a walking child develops leg curvatures. "Rickets," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Top: Health: Conditions and Diseases: Nutrition and Metabolism Disorders: Vitamins and Minerals: Rickets

See Also:

Rickets Is Preventable - Dr. Barbara Struempler, a nutritionist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System describes how the condition can be avoided.
eMedicine - Rickets - Laurence Finberg, MD provides a description of the condition's pathophysiology, frequency, lab and imaging studies.
Cornell Science News: Bangladesh Rickets Project - Reports that scientists travel to the Chakaria area to learn why the disease is so prevalent in such a sunny area.
Rickets - Mayo Clinic answers how this vitamin D deficiency effects children's bones, who is at risk, non-dietary causes, symptoms, and diagnosis.
About Rickets - Offers a description of the malady that includes information on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.
Vitamin D Processing and Familial Rickets - Offers a comparison between Vitamin D sensitive and resistant forms of the bone disease. Includes a general overview of bone growth and development.

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