NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Could a Certain Dietary Defficiency Cause Osteomalacia?
A 48 year old lady has a history of low back pain, and radiation of pain down right thigh for more than six months duration. X-rays showed signs suggesting osteomalacia and serum alkaline phosphatase was raised (185 U/L). Is this a primary problem due to dietary defficiency or could be secondary to some other pathology?
Osteomalacia can be the result of a number of conditions including vitamin D and/or calcium deficiency, renal disease, and certain medications. A thorough evaluation would be necessary to determine the cause.
Margery Gass, MD
Formely, Professor, Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati