Nutritional rickets around the world

▸ The greatest burden of nutritional rickets is in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. ▸ It is re-emerging in many industrialized countries especially in some ethnic groups. ▸ D deficiency is the main cause even in sunny places, due to limited skin exposure. ▸ Rickets without severe hypovitaminosis D is associated with very low Ca intakes. ▸ Prevention or cure based on vitamin D status will be ineffective in such cases.