Rickets and Osteomalacia
Rockets and osteomalacia are among the more common syndromes resulting from malnutrition. Twenty five years ago, rickets was said to be a disease of the past conquered by supplementation of the milk supplies with vitamin D.
The claim proved to be premature, because the claimants were not informed of prevalence of rickets in many developing countries where supplements was not feasible.
Historically, rickets grew in importance as the industrial revolution brought about migration of laborers from countryside to city. Urbanization was especially extensive in Britain.
Smoke from ten thousands of coal fires combined with cloud and fog and the dimed light of northern latitudes deprived infants and children of the sunlight necessary for vitamin D synthesis.
Epidemics of rickets resulted. Some relief was provided by medication with cod liver oil, its efficacy having been established in the seventeenth century.
Sunlight was also known to produce remission, although it was not until 1890 that Palm provided convincing evidence that lack of sunlight could cause rickets and that exposure to sunlight was curative.
The discovery of vitamin D and especially the successful prophylaxis of rickets by fortification of milk with vitamin D is the United Stated States and elsewhere, led to the premature announcements of its disappearance.
Rickets and Osteomalacia
