The Nobel prize for chemistry for 1928 was awarded to Adolf Windaus “for his studies on the constitution of the sterols and their connection with vitamins” (1), the first person to receive an award mentioning vitamins. What was the contribution Windaus made to our knowledge of vitamins that deserved the highest scientific accolade? The vitamin in question was vitamin D. It had a long history be...

Vitamin D was discovered in early 20th century while looking for a cure for rickets [1]. British doctor Edward Mellan [2] by noticed dogs that were fed cod liver oil did not develop rickets and concluded vitamin A, or a closely associated factor, could prevent the disease. In 1922, Elmer McCollum tested modified cod liver oil in which the vitamin A had been destroyed [3]. The modified oil cured...

Ribs from 3 preterm infants, who had died after prolonged intravenous feeding and artificial ventilation, were examined histologically and assessed for the degree of osteomalacia and osteoporosis in cancellous bone of the shaft. A grid counting technique was used. Osteomalacia was noted in all 3 cases but to a lesser degree than in classical vitamin D-deficient controls. Osteoporosis was pronou...

1. Carlsen NL, Krasilnikoff PA, Eiken M. Premature cranial synostosis in X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets: possible precipitation by 1-alpha-OH-cholecalciferol intoxication. Acta Paediatr Scand 73(1):149–54, 1984 2. Currarino G. Sagittal synostosis in X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets and related diseases. Pediatr Radiol 37(8):805–12, 2007 3. Freudlsperger C, Hoffmann J, Castrillon-Oberndorfer...

The last decades showed a resurgence of rickets and osteomalacia in the developed countries. In this report, we present two cases of dietary rickets in Indian teenage brothers who migrated to Europe. Supplementation of calcium and vitamin D3 to their diet resulted in rapid relief of musculoskeletal symptoms.

Fanconi-Bickel Syndrome (FBS) is a rare variety of glycogen storage disease (GSD). Characterized by massive hepatomegaly due to glycogen accumulation, severe hypophosphatemic rickets, and marked growth retardation due to proximal renal tubular dysfunction. We report a young boy presented as hypophosphatemic rickets with hepatomegaly and subsequently diagnosed as FBS.

Our observations show that young rabbits born of mothers afflicted with Schistosomum japonicum develop typical rickets. Rickets can also be produced if we infect the young, healthy rabbits with the same parasite. It is natural to suppose that the rachitic changes are caused by the parasite itself. Since, however, a similar disease can be produced in the offspring, when the mother is fed on egg ...

Fraser, Jaco, Yendt, Munn and Liu (1957) and Fraser, Geiger, Munn, Slater, Jahn and Liu (1958) reported healing of rachitic lesions in vitamin Ddeficient and in hypophosphataemic refractory rickets by intravenous administration of phosphate. The concentration of serum inorganic phosphorus, which initially had been very low, was kept at normal levels for a period of five to seven days. The autho...

OBJECTIVE To determine the occurrence of subclinical rickets and its causing factors among adolescent students of schools in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan. STUDY DESIGN Observation cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Biochemistry and Health Sciences, Hazara University, Mansehra, Ayub Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, from March to April 2012. METHOD...