How can vitamin D deficiency contribute to rickets?

Vitamin D, which functions as a steroid hormone, is essential for maintaining bone rigidity by regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphate in the small intestine.12

In the body, vitamin D is converted into its most active form, calcitriol, which facilitates the deposition of calcium phosphate into the bone matrix. When a vitamin D deficiency occurs, the body cannot efficiently absorb these minerals. This leads to low serum calcium levels, which triggers the parathyroid glands to secrete parathormone. While this hormone attempts to restore serum calcium by liberating it from the bones, it results in a poorly calcified protein matrix.132

Consequently, the bones become soft and susceptible to the deformities characteristic of rickets in children. This deficiency can stem from insufficient dietary intake, limited exposure to ultraviolet light, or metabolic issues that prevent the proper conversion of vitamin D into its active hormonal form.12