Rickets

Put simply, rickets affects how a child’s bones grow and strengthen during development. 

Rickets is most often caused by a lack of vitamin D, although low calcium levels and some digestive or medical conditions can also play a role.

When the body does not have enough vitamin D, calcium or phosphate, the bones can gradually become softer and weaker (1,2). In such cases, the body may begin taking calcium from the bones to keep blood calcium levels balanced. Therefore, over time, this can affect normal bone growth and structure (3).

From a holistic perspective, practitioners often look beyond calcium, focusing on how well a child is absorbing and using the range of nutrients needed for healthy bone development. 

Healthy skeletal development depends heavily on the relationship between vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb minerals from food, while calcium and phosphorus work together to strengthen and harden the growing bone structure. If one element of this process fails, the entire skeletal development is compromised  (4,5).

From a naturopathic perspective, bone health is not only about what a child eats, but also how effectively the nutrients are absorbed from food (6). Certain digestive issues may make it harder for the body to properly absorb nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium (7).

As mentioned previously, regarding nutrition, practitioners often focus on the wider network of nutrients involved in healthy bone growth rather than calcium alone.

Magnesium is considered important because it helps support vitamin D activity within the body, while vitamin K2 helps guide calcium toward the bones rather than soft tissues (8). Moreover, trace minerals such as boron are also valued because they help support overall mineral balance linked to skeletal development (9).

Within holistic nutrition, practitioners often encourage nutrient dense foods naturally rich in bone supporting compounds.

Egg yolks, oily fish and traditional bone broths are commonly recommended because they provide nutrients involved in healthy skeletal growth alongside collagen supporting amino acids. Fish like salmon and sardines provide high-quality protein, vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids, all of which support healthy growth and bone development. Vitamin D is essential for the body to absorb calcium, which is the primary mineral for bone density. Bone broth contains collagen-supporting amino acids like proline and glycine. Your body uses these amino acids as the building blocks for creating collagen (10). While the body can synthesise its own collagen from dietary amino acids, adequate protein and amino acid intake is important for building strong, healthy bones during childhood and adolescence. 

Egg yolks are a natural source of vitamin D and zinc. Zinc plays a fundamental role in the synthesis and repair of collagen in bone tissue.

Likewise, it’s thought that dark leafy greens help provide additional minerals needed for developing bones, most notably calcium and magnesium. They’re also rich in vitamin C, which is required for the chemical process your body uses to produce collagen (11).

Spending limited time outdoors can reduce the skin’s ability to naturally produce Vitamin D through sunlight exposure. Meanwhile, highly processed diets may lack the broader range of minerals needed for healthy growth and bone strength.

For this reason, naturopathic practitioners often encourage regular outdoor activity together with balanced, minimally processed meals as a baseline in terms of rickets prevention (12,13).

Please note that rickets is a serious medical condition that requires proper diagnosis and medical supervision. If left untreated, the condition may affect growth, posture and long term bone development during childhood (14).

Children experiencing bone pain, delayed growth, muscle weakness or visible skeletal changes should always be assessed medically.