Question

Osteomalacia is a deficiency disease of
(a) Infants due to protein-energy malnutrition.
(b) Adults due to protein-energy malnutrition.
(c) Adult due to Vitamin D deficiency.
(d) Infants due to Vitamin K deficiency.

Answer 1

In osteomalacia, the bone becomes soft, due to which one can easily bend and break. This disorder is caused due to deficiency of calcium and phosphorus which make bones weak.

Complete Answer:
Bone is a living connective tissue externally covered with cortex and internally filled with matrix. The strength of bone depends upon the production of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D helps in the production and secretion of calcium and phosphorus, deficiency of Vitamin D affects bone strength and causes osteomalacia in adults.

Additional information: Symptoms of osteomalacia include pain in bones and joints, difficulty in walking, muscles cramp, muscles become weak and stiff. Osteomalacia diagnosed by blood test and treatment includes regular intake of calciferol, calciferol treat hypoparathyroidism which causes due to deficiency of vitamin D leads to osteomalacia, regular uptake of vitamin D also help to heal cracks rapidly by deposition of calcium and phosphate.
Regular absorption of sunlight on the body is necessary to fulfill the demand for Vitamin D in our body, the amount of intake of sunlight is different in different people. In light skin, the person absorption rate is high therefore 15-20 minutes of sunlight is sufficient but in a dark tone, the person adsorption rate is low that's why they need 30-35 min of sunlight every day. Other causes of osteomalacia include kidney failure, liver disease, untreated coeliac disease, and genetic abnormalities.
Symptoms of osteomalacia and osteoporosis are the same but osteoporosis is caused due to deficiency of minerals and fibers from the bone matrix which leads to an imbalance of calcitonin and parathormone hormones.
So, the correct answer is ‘(c) Adult due to Vitamin D deficiency’.

Note: Osteomalacia and rickets are similar diseases but the only difference is that osteomalacia occurs in adults whereas Ricketts occurs in children between 6 to 36 months. The risk of this disease is high in children as compared to an adult.