Caused by vitamin D deficiency.
Very common among babies and children back in the depression and Word War II era.
Yep - the adult version is called Osteomalacia. Some medications can trigger Vitamin D deficiency, too - and don't depend on your physician to screen for it. It happened to me; my doc runs blood work on me every six months to monitor liver function due to a medication I've used for 20+ years. Not once did I hear anything about osteomalacia or the benefits of taking a vitamin D supplement or calcium supplements - found out while doing research on the Internet.
Two office visits ago, I asked the doctor to add the Vitamin D levels test to the lab orders. No phone messages or anything followed, so I figured all was okay. Last visit, I asked about the Vitamin D levels. After glancing at the lab report, the doctor cleared his throat and said "Oh, yeah... I guess we should start you on a supplement". !@&#%
Vitamin D supplements take a long time to have any effect, so I'll be interested to see if the levels improve in a few months when I go back.
Seems like I've read about reduced Vitamin D levels being either an indicator of Crohn's Disease, too - can't recall if it's thought to be a cause or a symptom.
Thanks for the additional information.
Yes, Vitamin D deficiency can have serious consequences.
America didn’t always have the abundance of food we see today.
Many children and adults suffered from malnutrition in the depression and WWII era.
In the 1930’s milk processors began adding vitamin D to pasteurized milk in an effort to combat Rickets.
But many families drank unfortified raw milk right up to the post war years.
And of course, some still do.