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Ency. home > Disease > O > Osteomalacia

Osteomalacia   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Rickets (children)

Definition:

Osteomalacia is a softening of the bones in adults caused by a failure of the normal calcification (calcium deposits).

Causes and Risks

There are numerous causes of osteomalacia. In children, the condition is called rickets and is usually caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D. Conditions that may result in osteomalacia include inadequate dietary intake of Vitamin D, inadequate exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet radiation), which forms Vitamin D in the body, and malabsorption of Vitamin D by the intestine.

Other conditions include hereditary or acquired disorders of Vitamin D metabolism, kidney failure and acidosis, phosphate depletion associated with low dietary intake, kidney disease, or malignancy (rare), and side effects of medications used to treat seizures.

Risk factors are related to the causes. In the elderly, there is an increased risk for those who tend to remain indoors and who avoid milk because of lactose intolerance.

Ency. home > Disease > O > Osteomalacia

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