Question

Marie is a 63-year-old African American woman from the Midwest. She is lactose intolerant and prefers staying indoors as opposed to going outside. Lately, she has had terrible bone and joint pain and a recent checkup confirms that Marie is deficient in vitamin D and has a disease called osteomalacia , or poor bone mineralization. This would be considered a primary deficiency that could be directly treated with vitamin D supplementation.

Answer 1

Low levels of vitamin D can lead to a decrease in calcium absorption, resulting in poor bone mineralization and conditions like osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Vitamin D supplementation and foods rich in vitamin D are direct treatments for these deficiencies.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an individual presents with very low levels of vitamin D and complains of seemingly fragile bones, these two factors are likely connected due to vitamin D's crucial role in bone health. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestines, which are essential minerals for building and maintaining strong bones. Without sufficient vitamin D, there is a decrease in calcium absorption leading to demineralization. This can result in soft bones with a tendency to break easily, a condition known as osteomalacia. Furthermore, a deficiency in vitamin D may contribute to the development of osteoporosis, particularly in older adults, where bones become porous and brittle.

Vitamin D supplementation is a direct treatment for vitamin D deficiency. Foods rich in vitamin D, such as egg yolks, cod liver oil, and liver, can aid in recovery from these deficiencies. It is also important to consider factors contributing to the deficiency, such as limited sunlight exposure and dietary restrictions, and address them where possible.