Severe vitamin D deficiency
Dr Calcasola commented: “A vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which can contribute to osteoporosis and fractures (broken bones). Severe vitamin D deficiency can also lead to other diseases.
“In children, it can cause rickets, a rare disease that causes the bones to become soft and bend.
“In adults, severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia which causes weak bones, bone pain, and muscle weakness.
“Researchers are conducting studies of vitamin D for its possible connections to several medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, however more research is needed before we can fully understand the effects of vitamin D on these conditions.”