What foods are good for rickets?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on February 03, 2025
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Rickets is a global chronic nutritional disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, leading to disorders in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and abnormal bone development. The main issue stems from the lack of vitamin D, which causes abnormalities in the body's calcium levels, thus it's important to ensure dietary intake of vitamin D. For early infancy, it is generally recommended to strengthen feeding practices. Infants under six months should be exclusively breastfed until six months of age, followed by timely introduction of complementary foods. Cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamin D, should be routinely supplemented starting from the second week after birth, along with regular monitoring of growth and development. As complementary foods are introduced, try to include vitamin-rich vegetables and appropriately supplement with calcium-rich foods, such as certain seafood, while being mindful of potential allergies in children. Additionally, it is beneficial to include some high-protein, nutritious foods. Most importantly, children should persist in outdoor activities to get ample sunlight and continue supplementing with cod liver oil.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Rickets and osteoporosis are caused by a lack of what?

Rickets and osteoporosis are both caused by a lack of vitamin D and calcium. Rickets is commonly seen in infants and can present with abnormalities in skeletal development such as "ping-pong ball head", signs of wrist and ankle bracelets, square skull, funnel chest, pigeon chest, X-shaped legs, and O-shaped legs. Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease caused by reduced bone formation and increased bone resorption. It can be categorized according to its etiology into senile osteoporosis, postmenopausal osteoporosis, idiopathic osteoporosis, and secondary osteoporosis. Clinically, it can manifest as fatigue, bone pain, and fractures.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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How is rickets treated?

How is rickets treated? Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The common nutritional deficiency of vitamin D, primarily due to insufficient intake, results in abnormal bone development. At this time, effectively supplementing vitamin D, engaging in appropriate outdoor activities, and receiving ample sunlight can treat rickets in children. However, there are some special cases, such as significant abnormalities in liver or kidney function, where treatment should be targeted based on the cause of the condition. In addition, some congenital genetic abnormalities causing disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism can make treatment more challenging. Therefore, the treatment of rickets should be based on specific conditions. Generally, if it is simply a case of nutritional deficiency of vitamin D, the treatment outcome is quite favorable and the condition is considered self-limiting. Thus, if a vitamin D deficiency is detected, it is important to supplement promptly to prevent further abnormal bone development.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Rickets is a disease characterized by the softening and weakening of bones in children, typically due to inadequate vitamin D.

Rickets is a disease, and its full name is Nutritional Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets. It is caused by a lack of vitamin D in children, leading to a disorder in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body. It is a chronic nutritional disease characterized by bone lesions. Its typical manifestation is incomplete mineralization of the growing long bone ends and bone tissue. The symptoms include abnormal development of the bones. Generally, without timely and effective intervention, it may lead to conditions such as pigeon chest, or S-shaped or O-shaped legs, which can seriously affect the child's life later on.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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How should children with rickets supplement calcium?

Rickets is a nutritional disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, leading to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, which results in abnormal bone development. It is mainly due to a lack of vitamin D, so the primary treatment is supplementing with vitamin D. Dairy is a reliable source of calcium nutrition for infants, and generally, it is not necessary to supplement calcium for the treatment of rickets; attention should be paid to supplementing with vitamin D according to the severity of the condition, and spending more time in the sun. For children who have started eating complementary foods, or older children, it is generally recommended to fully supplement vitamin D levels, spend more time in the sun during summer, and consume high-protein nutrients. Additionally, eating more vegetables and appropriately supplementing with calcium supplements in the winter is advised. The dosage should be based on the child's internal levels of calcium and phosphorus, with calcium supplementation adjusted accordingly.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Does rickets cause dry skin and an absence of sweating?

Rickets does not cause dry skin or an absence of sweat. Rickets is a disorder of calcium and phosphorus metabolism caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, and it may also be associated with bone deformities. In infants, it often presents with neurological symptoms such as being easily startled during sleep, increased night sweats, and a variety of symptoms including bald patches on the back of the head. However, an absence of sweating is often a symptom of sweat gland disorders and is not necessarily related to rickets. In some cases, babies sweat less because their sweat glands are underdeveloped, so if a child with rickets has symptoms of dry skin, they are not particularly prominent. If rickets is confirmed, it is crucial to actively supplement vitamin D, spend more time in the sun, and engage in outdoor exercise to facilitate the body's natural synthesis of vitamin D. Severe cases require oral or injected high doses of vitamin D to prevent the condition from worsening and causing bone deformities.