Osteomalacia

Osteomalacia refers to a softening of your bones, most often caused by a vitamin D deficiency. In children, this condition is called rickets. Soft bones are more likely to bow and fracture than are harder, healthy bones. Achy bone pain and muscle weakness are the major signs and symptoms of osteomalacia. Osteomalacia often develops if you're not exposed to enough sunlight because sunlight prompts the production of vitamin D in your skin. A diet deficient in vitamin D and disorders that interfere with the absorption of vitamin D in your digestive tract also are major causes of osteomalacia. Osteomalacia is not the same as osteoporosis, another bone disorder that can also lead to bone fractures. Osteomalacia results from a defect in the bone-building process, while osteoporosis develops due to a weakening of previously constructed bone. Treatment for osteomalacia involves replenishing low levels of vitamin D and other bone-building minerals or treating an underlying disorder that may be causing osteomalacia.