Rickets disease -Lack of vitamin D - Prevention

Lack of vitamin D and rickets disease prevention

Prevention of rickets disease involves sufficient exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet B light) and dietary intake of sufficient human growth hormone (HGH), calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D (Cholecalciferol).
Measures for prevention of rickets disease are to be started right during pregnancy.
Pregnant woman must have adequate intake of balanced diet with additional supplements of vitamin D and minerals and lack of these can affect the growing fetus.
Human milk is just sufficient in vitamin D depending on the nutritional status of the lactating mother.

As the growing infant has great demand for calcium and Cholecalciferol the nursing mother should not lack in exposure to sunlight.
The nursing mother should consume diet rich in calcium and Cholecalciferol and also take supplements if required for the warding off lack of vitamin D.
The infant who is solely dependent on mother's milk should be given sufficient exposure to sunlight daily for prevention of low levels of vitamin D and occurrence of this disease.

rachitis disease rickets children
Children are affected by rickets disease (enlarge)(courtesy: Dr. Tom and Rosie Thacher)
Further as the daily demand of nutrients increases many fold in infants, vitamin D and other supplements may be started early for prevention of rickets arising due lack of them.
Light skinned infants may require about twenty minutes of ultraviolet light exposure per day for protection from developing rickets.
Dark skinned infants require more exposure for warding off this vitamin D deficiency, as the skin pigment interferes in the Cholecalciferol synthesis by cutting off the light.

Vegans who do not consume even milk have low levels of both calcium and vitamin D (Cholecalciferol).
Vegans and their infants are highly prone to develop rickets disease; their nutritional status regarding both calcium and Calcitriol must be monitored. They must take vitamin D supplements as protection.

Premature infants and underweight infants have greater demand for vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus and may develop rickets, if they are insufficient in them.
People living in higher latitudes are at the risk of developing rickets especially in the winter months due to lack of sufficient sun exposure in short days .

Dark skinned children living in higher latitudes are highly prone to rickets and they must be supplemented with cholecalciferol as prevention.
For prevention of rickets disease people living in higher latitudes must take food rich in Calcitriol and also take supplements.

People suffering from gastrointestinal disorders and prolonged illness may lack vitamin D must take supplements  to ward off deficiency.
Renal disease cause lack of Calcitriol absorption and calcitriol supplements must be taken for
prevention of rickets.The deficiency can be checked. For prevention of rickets disease sufficient exposure to sunlight, taking food rich in vitamin D and taking supplements is necessary.

Current topic:
Prevention of rickets disease in children - Lack of vitamin D.

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