Diets for Rickets || Vitamin D, Calcium and Phosphorous

    

 Diets for Rickets Patients

        A well balanced diet and nutrition is the key recommendation for prevention of not only rickets but also for many other disease.

    What is Rickets? and Why it occurs?

        As we all are well aware of that rickets occurs when bone density mineralization is disturbed. Calcium and phosphorous are the main minerals which make most of the bone matrix and outer hard part. It mostly happens that we are taking enough calcium and phosphorous but their absorption can not take place precisely. why? Because the factor that promotes their absorption either is not being produced in the body or is being taken in minute quantity through our diet.

    Dietary Treatment

        Though in severe cases many other medications are practiced but our main focus here is on diet and nutrition during or before rickets. So, what to eat?

1. Vitamin D rich foods
2. Calcium and Phosphorous rich foods

Following are the two ways to meet our daily requirements of vitamin D

• vitamin D supplementation
• vitamin D rich or fortified foods

Vitamin D supplements

• Vitamin D2 also known as ergocalciferol or pre-vitamin D which is obtained from plants and fungus
• Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol which is obtained from animal sources

            Both of these vitamins can also be produced from within the body through proper exposure to sun.

        Sources of Vitamin D3

• fish and fish liver oil
• egg yolks 
• cheese 
• beef liver 

        Sources of  vitamin D2 

• mushroom like morels and chanterelles

        Some other generalized sources of vitamin D

• Fortified cereals and oatmeal
• Fortified orange juice
• Cod liver oil
• Salmon fish
• Tuna fish
• Herring fish
• Halibut
• Mackerel
• Shiitake mushrooms
• Cow's milk; natural source of calcium and phosphorous can be fortified with vitamin D
• Soy milk can also be fortified with vitamin D

    Foods rich in calcium and Phosphorous

        Along with vitamin D supplements intake, it is also mandatory to eat foods which are rich in calcium and phosphorous so that the rickets can be treated early. Here are some dietary sources which can be taken under consideration for daily calcium and phosphorous requirements.

• Spinach
• Okra
• Kale
• Soybeans
• Collards
• White beans
• Fish like salmon, sardines, perch and rainbow trout

    Note:

More intake of vitamin D than upper limits (UL) i.e. 4000 IU can cause toxicity. 

Always take supplements according to physician's prescription