Vitamin D deficiency rickets – a case series: a TIP of the iceberg
Abstract
INTRODUCTIONVitamin D deficiency is the most common cause of rickets worldwide. In Malaysia, owing to the abundant sunlight exposure, it is believed to be uncommon, however it is likely to be under-reported. In addition, dietary calcium deficiency is an important cause of nutritional rickets in children above 1 year old in developing countries. RESULTSWe report a case-series of 4 unrelated Malaysian children (aged between 1 to 3) born in Istanbul, Turkey presented with the classical clinical features and biochemical changes of rickets. They were all exclusively breast-fed during infancy with poor dietary calcium intake. Their workup showed normal Calcium, high Alkaline Phosphatase, low Vitamin D and high Parathyroid hormone levels, with radiographic changes of fraying and spraying of the wrist, consistent with Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets. Bowing of legs and widening of wrists joints also seen. Low maternal Vitamin D levels also support the diagnosis. All four children were treated with cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and short-term calcium supplements. The children showed improvements in growth and normalization of biochemical parameters on follow-ups. CONCLUSIONMeta-analysis in Turkish populations have shown high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency leading to their national policy of vitamin D supplementation for infants. Our patients in this case series were neither immunized nor received the appropriate supplements during their stay in Istanbul, Turkey. Maternal vitamin D…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Bioactive Molecules Released in Food by Lactic Acid Bacteria: Encrypted Peptides and Biogenic Amines
- A central role for amyloid fibrin microclots in long COVID/PASC: origins and therapeutic implications
- Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of phenolic compounds
- The Glutamate Hypothesis in ALS: Pathophysiology and Drug Development
- Therapeutic Approaches to Genetic Ion Channelopathies and Perspectives in Drug Discovery
- Effects of the Mediterranean Diet on the Components of Metabolic Syndrome Concerning the Cardiometabolic Risk
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.