What is Osteomalacia?

Osteomalacia means “soft bones.” Osteomalacia is a disease that weakens the bones and can make them break more easily. This is a disorder of low mineralization, which results in bone breaking down faster than it can be rebuilt. This is a condition that occurs in adults. In children, insufficient vitamin D can lead to rickets.

What are the causes of osteomalacia?

Osteomalacia usually develops due to vitamin D deficiency (often from not getting enough sunlight), or less frequently, digestive or kidney disorders. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and maintaining bone health. These disorders can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb vitamins. There are also rare genetic conditions that can cause osteomalacia.

What are the symptoms of osteomalacia?

The most common symptoms of osteomalacia are pain in bones and hips, bone fractures and muscle weakness. Due to this disease, patients may also have difficulty in walking.

How is osteomalacia diagnosed?

There are several tests that can be done to determine if someone has osteomalacia.

The most important indicator is low levels of vitamin D, but low calcium levels or a significant drop in phosphate levels may also indicate osteomalacia.

X-rays may be taken to see if there is any evidence of osteomalacia.

A bone mineral density scan can be helpful in evaluating the amount of calcium and other minerals present in a patient’s bone section. These scans are not needed to diagnose osteomalacia. However, they can provide important information about a patient’s bone health.

Rarely, the doctor may perform a bone biopsy, in which a sample of bone tissue is taken and examined.

How is osteomalacia treated?

Patients with osteomalacia may take vitamin D, calcium or phosphate supplements depending on the individual case. For example, people with intestinal malabsorption (the intestines do not absorb nutrients or vitamins properly) may need to take larger amounts of vitamin D and calcium.

Other treatments to relieve or correct the symptoms of osteomalacia may include the following:

wearing braces to reduce or prevent bone irregularities

Surgery to correct bone deformities (in severe cases)

Adequate exposure to sunlight

Note, do not take any medicine without doctor’s advice. Self-medication is life-threatening and can lead to serious medical conditions.