Deficiency of vitamin D in adults leads to?

Daman & Diu Staff Nurse - 2018

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: Daman & Diu Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

Osteomalacia is the specific term for the softening of bones in adults caused by impaired bone metabolism, primarily due to inadequate levels of available phosphate, calcium, and vitamin D.
In adults, whose growth plates have closed, vitamin D deficiency leads to defective mineralization of newly formed bone during the remodeling process.
This results in an accumulation of unmineralized bone matrix (osteoid), making the bones weak, painful, and susceptible to fractures.
It is considered the adult equivalent of rickets.

Option A: Keratomalacia is an eye condition, not a bone disorder. It involves the drying and clouding of the cornea.
Option B: Osteoporosis is a condition where bone density is lost, making bones porous and brittle. While vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor, osteoporosis is primarily characterized by the loss of bone mass, not just defective mineralization of the existing matrix.
Option D: Rickets is the term for the softening and weakening of bones specifically in children, whose bones are still growing. The deficiency affects the growth plates, leading to characteristic deformities like bowed legs.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional Deficiencies and Bone Disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in identifying at-risk populations for vitamin D deficiency, such as the elderly, individuals with limited sun exposure, and patients with malabsorption disorders.
Patient education on diet, safe sun exposure, and the importance of supplementation is a key nursing responsibility to prevent osteomalacia.
Assessment for bone pain, muscle weakness, and a waddling gait can help in the early detection of osteomalacia.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'deficiency of vitamin D' and 'in adults'.
Recall the primary function of Vitamin D, which is to facilitate calcium and phosphate absorption for bone mineralization.
Differentiate the bone disorders related to vitamin D deficiency based on the age of onset. Rickets occurs in children, while osteomalacia occurs in adults.
Analyze the other options. Keratomalacia is caused by Vitamin A deficiency and affects the eyes. Osteoporosis is a loss of bone mass, a different pathology from the defective mineralization seen in osteomalacia.
Select the option that correctly matches the deficiency (Vitamin D) with the patient population (adults).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nutritional Deficiencies and Bone Disorders
Stem keywords: deficiency, vitamin D, adults
Lead-in keywords: leads to
Clinical cues: The question specifies the patient population as 'adults', which is a key differentiator.

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