What is the name of the disease caused by vitamin D deficiency?

November 22, 2025 •

3 min read

Worldwide studies indicate that vitamin D deficiency is a widespread issue, recognized as a pandemic that can cause significant health problems. This deficiency leads to a disease that weakens and softens bones, known as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

Quick Summary

Severe and prolonged vitamin D deficiency leads to bone disorders such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Both conditions arise from impaired bone mineralization due to low vitamin D levels, causing weakened, soft bones and related symptoms like bone pain and muscle weakness.

Key Points

Two Primary Diseases: Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, both leading to bone softening.
Rickets in Children: This disease disrupts bone development in growing children, causing skeletal deformities like bowed legs and enlarged joints.
Osteomalacia in Adults: The adult version leads to weakened bone structure, resulting in bone pain, muscle weakness, and a higher risk of fractures.
Symptoms Vary by Age: Children show visible deformities, whereas adults typically experience widespread pain and stiffness.
Treatment is Effective: Both conditions can be cured or managed with targeted vitamin D and calcium supplementation, often alongside dietary adjustments and sun exposure.
Prevention is Vital: Ensuring sufficient vitamin D from sunlight, fortified foods, or supplements is the best way to prevent deficiency and its associated bone diseases.

Understanding the diseases of vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D plays a critical role in the body, primarily by assisting in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the diet. These minerals are essential for the proper mineralization and strength of bones. When the body lacks sufficient vitamin D, this crucial process is disrupted, leading to two distinct but related diseases depending on the person's age. These conditions are rickets in children, and osteomalacia in adults, both characterized by soft, weakened bones.

Rickets: The disease in childhood

Rickets affects children whose bones are still developing. The softening and weakening of the growth plates lead to skeletal deformities. This was historically known as the “English disease” due to its prevalence during the Industrial Revolution, when factory pollution blocked sunlight—a primary source of vitamin D. While now rare in many developed countries due to fortified foods, it remains a risk for certain populations.

Symptoms of rickets in children can include:

Delayed growth
Delayed motor skills
Pain in the spine, pelvis, and legs
Muscle weakness
Bowed legs or knock-knees
Thickened wrists and ankles
Dental problems, like cavities
Soft skull bones in infants

Diagnosis typically involves a physical exam, a review of diet and medical history, and blood tests to measure vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus levels. X-rays can also reveal characteristic changes in the bones.

Osteomalacia: The adult counterpart

In adults, where bones are no longer growing, severe vitamin D deficiency causes osteomalacia. This condition leads to a poorly mineralized bone matrix, resulting in weakened bones that are more susceptible to fractures. The symptoms in adults often differ from those in children, presenting as diffuse pain rather than bowing limbs.

Key signs of osteomalacia in adults include:

Aching and pain, especially in the hips, spine, and feet
Muscle weakness and stiffness
Increased risk of fractures from minor trauma
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs

The diagnosis of osteomalacia also relies on blood tests for vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, along with other markers like alkaline phosphatase. Imaging, such as X-rays, can reveal specific signs like pseudofractures or 'Looser zones'.

Comparison table: Rickets vs. osteomalacia


Feature	Rickets	Osteomalacia
Affected Population	Children, typically under 2 years.	Adults, typically older adults or those with malabsorption.
Primary Effect on Bones	Softening and weakening of growth plates and bones, causing bowing or other deformities.	Softening and weakening of existing bones, increasing fracture risk.
Key Symptom	Skeletal deformities like bowed legs and enlarged joints.	Diffuse bone and muscle pain, especially in the lower half of the body.
Cause	Primarily severe vitamin D deficiency affecting bone development.	Prolonged vitamin D deficiency disrupting the mineralization of bone matrix.

Treatment and prevention

Treatment for both rickets and osteomalacia involves supplementing the patient with high doses of vitamin D and calcium to restore normal mineral levels. In most cases, this will resolve the symptoms over several months. For children with rickets, skeletal deformities may require bracing or, in severe instances, surgery.

Prevention is key and focuses on ensuring adequate vitamin D intake and exposure. Strategies include:

Safe sun exposure: Allowing unprotected skin (like arms and legs) to be exposed to sunlight for short periods, especially during summer months, can produce sufficient vitamin D. However, skin cancer risks mean this must be balanced and may not be enough for those in northern climates or with darker skin pigmentation.
Dietary intake: Including foods naturally rich in vitamin D (e.g., fatty fish, egg yolks, fish oil) or fortified foods (e.g., milk, cereals, orange juice) is important.
Supplementation: For individuals at high risk, or when dietary and sun sources are insufficient, vitamin D supplements are a reliable option.
Addressing underlying causes: For those with malabsorption disorders or kidney/liver disease, treating the primary condition is crucial for managing vitamin D levels.

Conclusion

In summary, the name of the disease caused by vitamin D deficiency varies with age: it is rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. While both conditions lead to softened bones and can cause significant pain and deformity, they are typically treatable with vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Early diagnosis and intervention, coupled with preventive measures like dietary changes and supplementation, are essential for maintaining skeletal health and avoiding long-term complications.

Visit the National Institutes of Health website for more information on vitamin D and bone health.

Frequently Asked Questions

The medical term for the bone-softening disease caused by vitamin D deficiency in children is rickets.

In adults, the bone disease caused by a severe or prolonged vitamin D deficiency is called osteomalacia.

If a child has rickets, their bones soften and weaken, which can lead to skeletal deformities such as bowed legs, knock-knees, and thickened wrists and ankles.

Common symptoms of osteomalacia in adults include diffuse bone pain (especially in the hips, spine, and legs), muscle weakness, and a higher risk of fractures.

Vitamin D deficiency is typically diagnosed through a blood test that measures the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Yes, supplementation with vitamin D and calcium is the standard treatment and is usually effective at curing or managing rickets and osteomalacia.

While sunlight is a major source of vitamin D, factors like location, time of year, skin pigmentation, age, and sunscreen use can limit production. Many people need dietary sources or supplements to get enough.