Vitamin D and Osteomalacia
If you are wondering if vitamin D and osteomalacia are connected to each other, the answer is: yes, they are.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is normally produced in the skin during the sun exposure. This vitamin can be found in some foods, but these quantities are not sufficient. These foods must be combined with supplements and/or sun exposure in order to get required vitamin D daily dose.
Why is vitamin D important?
● Vitamin D is necessary for normal growth and development.
● It is important for bones, teeth, and immune system.
● Vitamin D is needed for proper absorption of phosphorus and calcium.
● Vitamin D is helpful in preventing certain problems, such as:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels in blood
- Rickets in children
- Bone fragility
- Weak immune system
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious problems. In some cases, it can only be diagnosed through blood tests, because symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?
- Fatigue
- Increased cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
- Weak bones
- Poor quality of teeth
- Depression
Who is at risk of becoming deficient in vitamin D?
- Older people
- Infants who are exclusively breastfed
- Obese people
- People who don’t spend time in the sun
- People who suffer from fat malabsorption disorders and other illnesses such as Crohn’s disease
Vitamin D and Osteomalacia
Vitamin D deficiency can result in osteomalacia in adults. Now, let us learn more about osteomalacia.
What is osteomalacia?
● Osteomalacia can be defined as the bone softening caused by improper bones mineralization. This occurs due to insufficient amounts of calcium and phosphorus.
● This illness is called ‘rickets’ in children. The term ‘osteomalacia’ is restricted to adults’ disease.
● Osteomalacia usually occurs because of vitamin D deficiency.
What are the causes of osteomalacia?
- Insufficient amounts of phosphorus and vitamin D
- Malnutrition (especially in pregnant women)
- Chronic renal failure
- Malabsorption syndrome
- Renal tubular acidosis
- Anticonvulsant therapy (that lasts for a long time)
- Hypophosphatemia
- Coeliac disease
The Symptoms of Osteomalacia
The most common symptoms of osteomalacia include:
- Spinal bone pain
- Weak bones
- Leg bone pain
- Muscle weakness
- Bone pain
- Pelvic pain
- Pelvic flattening
- Bone softening
- Bone fractures
- Hypocalcaemia
- Easy fracturing
- Pain
Vitamin D deficiency can be prevented. You can do several things.
● Consume foods that contain vitamin D, such as:
- Dairy products
- Meat
- Eggs
● If you are a vegetarian, you can use supplements and/or vitamin D fortified foods.
● Spend more time in the sun. According to some researches, twenty minutes in the sun three times a week is enough to get vitamin D.
● You can talk to your doctor about vitamin D supplements. If you do not spend enough time in the sun, and/or you are a vegetarian, you should find some other ways to get vitamin D. Your vitamin D levels in blood will be measured and you will get some supplements to use, if needed.
was diagnosed with severe Vit D deficincy – my number as a 9. taking 50,000 units weekly for 6 weeks, then more bloodwork. prior to being diagnoised started having severe pain and stiffness in left upper arm and shoulder – went to doctor who assumed was rotator cuff syndrome – no tests – - – wondering now if Vit D is the culprit – might be my imagination but 2-3 days after my weekly dosage it seems my arm pain is less severe – we’ll see
After 5 neck surgeries that refused to heal and 2 years just not going to surgeon my thumbs hurt so bad I could not hold a pen dr. said test for Ra I said no Lymes sure enough it was late stage lymes so now after 3 years of 50,000 iu of vitamin d my levels are still extremly low so I am not sure what’s next, but if you live in the south or been there lymes can be an option.
Food for thought!!! Kat
Lisa,
Make sure to have you thyroid levels checked also. I had first a B12 deficiency 2 years ago, just diagnosed with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, now just today found out the Vitamin D is low at 15. …story to be continued, hopefully hear from Doctor tomorrow. (results were mailed to my house, so I don’t know what they mean yet)
I am 47yrs old and very vitamin D deficient. (9 was my last test result). I tried the 50,000 IU`s but developed severe constipation and bloating. I couldn’t eat, which wasn’t helping my situation. So now I am at 9 (I was 14) . Iam taking only2000 IU`s daily & still having CONSTIPATION ISSUES & Now muscle weakness in my legs (my thighs feel like I’ve run a marathon), I’m short of breath, & now I’m being told I should use magnesium with Vitamin D..
Has anyone else heard anything about magnesium? I feel weak,And am taking stool softeners, but not much luck. I have an irregular heart rythm (from b4 this). Pvc`s and tachycardia.. since I’ve been on the vitamin D I’ve. Had more palpitations recently.. Has anyone else experienced anything like this, or does anyone have anythoughts? I’m super frustrated.. maybe moody? And now a friend is suggesting Low vitamin B might have a role in this as well.. 
I’m ready to throw my hands up.. any advice?
Marlisa:
Thank you so VERY much for sharing your story! I was just diagnosed with a severe Vit D deficieny, and will start the 50,000 unit pills tomorrow, for 10 weeks. It was wonderful to hear the POSITIVE outcome of the therapy, and has given me HOPE!
Best of luck with your health, and thanks again!
I was just wondering if anyone with vitamin D defienicy have arm or leg jerks mostly when trying to go to sleep but sometimes just sitting. Sometimes it feels like my whole body jerks. The doctor thinks these jerks are caused by anxiety which I have learned from reading these articles can also be caused by vitamin D defiency. Any thoughts?
I went to a Rheumatoid arthritis doctor because I had so much pain, especially in the mornings and thought I had RA. She told me she thought I had low vit D, and I did, severely. I went on an eight week regiment of one pill a week of 50,000 units and it took 4 weeks before I noticed any differentce, but after that fourth week, I couldn’t believe it. No more bone pain! My hair was coming back in and growing! My nails and skin were brighter and clearer. My husband has psoriasis and he is going to get his levels checked. This may be due to low vit D too. I now take 5,000 units every other day, because my levels go down without it. It is very important to take calcium with vit D to help absorb the vitamin. Hope this helps.
Thank you for this article! I was just diagnosed with quite low Vitamin D and the list of symptoms is very telling of undiagnosed problems I’ve been having such as fatigue and failure to loose weight even when I diet aggressively. I have the leg pain as well. I am very fair so avoid the sun. I drink a lot of milk but am learning that my diet coke habit maybe counteracting the benefits, so I’m quitting the diet coke. We’ll see if that plus changes in diet and a supplement help me resolve these problems. Again, thank you!