Rickets also known as vitamin D deficiency rickets, is a chronic nutritional disease characterized by skeletal abnormalities caused by inadequate vitamin D in infants, children, and adolescents. How can we prevent rickets? Here are some methods.
Causes of Rickets
Rickets, also known as vitamin D deficiency rickets, is mainly caused by a lack of vitamin D in the body, leading to metabolic bone diseases caused by the disorder of calcium and phosphorus metabolism.
Infantile rickets is mainly caused by vitamin D deficiency. Infants who are breastfed or fed with formula milk, as well as children who consume 400 milliliters of milk every day, generally do not lack calcium and do not need additional calcium supplements.
When the body has sufficient vitamin D, it often promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body because bone development relies on calcium and phosphorus, and vitamin D plays a decisive role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism.
Other hormones in the body, such as parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, actively participate in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The interaction between hormones maintains the normal metabolism of calcium and phosphorus and the normal development of bones.
Therefore, it is very important to supplement vitamin D in the treatment of infantile rickets. It can be obtained through sunlight exposure, food intake, and taking vitamin D supplements.
Prevention of Rickets
Supplementing cod liver oil and calcium is one of the effective methods to prevent rickets.
During the period from birth to 6 months, babies are in a physiological calcium deficiency period, and calcium supplementation is needed regardless of whether there are symptoms or not.
However, calcium supplementation alone is not enough. It is also necessary to ensure its full absorption, and vitamin D can help with calcium absorption.
The content of vitamin D in food is very low, and the infant diet is monotonous, so only a small amount can be obtained from food.
Sun exposure can convert a substance in the skin into vitamin D. This is the safest way to supplement vitamin D and will not cause vitamin D toxicity.
It should be noted that sun exposure must be done outdoors and not through glass, as ultraviolet rays cannot penetrate glass.
In addition, the incomplete gastrointestinal function of infants can also affect absorption, so it is recommended to supplement some beneficial bacteria in the intestine while supplementing calcium.
Supplementing vitamin AD (cod liver oil) while supplementing calcium can help increase the absorption of calcium. However, excessive consumption of cod liver oil can lead to toxicity.
Acute toxicity of vitamin A and D can cause increased intracranial pressure, manifested as headache, nausea, vomiting, irritability, mental fatigue, and bulging fontanelle, which is often mistaken for meningitis.
Chronic toxicity is manifested by decreased appetite, fever, diarrhea, angular cheilitis, hair loss, itchy skin, anemia, and increased urine output.
If the above symptoms occur, stop taking cod liver oil, reduce sun exposure, and seek medical attention immediately.
