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Which nutrient deficiency causes rickets?

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A woman with curly hair and a handbag shops at a busy outdoor farmer's market in Bulgaria, surrounded by stalls filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. — nutrition Vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet.

Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in the body, which leads to the softening of bones due to impaired calcium absorption.12

While vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause, rickets can also result from a deficiency or improper utilization of phosphorus. Specifically, conditions such as hypophosphatemia—often caused by metabolic defects that lead to excessive phosphate loss through the kidneys—can prevent the proper deposition of calcium phosphate in the bones, resulting in the deformities characteristic of rickets.314

In summary, rickets arises when the body lacks the necessary nutrients or metabolic processes to maintain bone rigidity, most notably involving vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate.123