Stormer999

In this day and age?....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14256950

BEVS

It is odd . Rickets has re-emerged here in New Zealand also. First reported back in 2006. Women not getting enough vitamin D.

P18PPS

"You don't see rickets in rich, advantaged, educated, middle-class South Asian people. So it's a mixture of religious, cultural practices with poverty."

I'm ok then

Stormer999

Must be occurring in a community where the women are completely veiled over in our country of poor sun hours and diets not rich in vitamin D ....butter, margarine etc...

BEVS

Poor diet will be a factor. Not just sunshine hours. In fact, maybe it is more about poor diet.

Grayling

So why does it also occur in Australia then?

Bo-Jangles

Vitamin D deficiency is on the increase worldwide, mostly led by the obsession these days not to expose flesh to the sun and the use of high factor sunscreens. People also stay indoors far more than they used to, drive everywhere (especially here in NZ) and don't get out for walks in daylight as often as they should.

It's also very common among elderly people in residential care, again because they never see much of the light of day.

I have an Asian friend who has been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency which has lead to bone degeneration and weakness. Doctors prescription is simply for her to get 15 minutes of exposure to daylight everyday.

Stormer999

I,m asking the question, you tell me...

Stormer999

Thats what I cannot understand BJ the experts say just 20 mins daylight even on an exposed arm will provide sufficient vitamin D. So why did people originally suffer rickets?

Bo-Jangles

I think it's two different things actually: in 'olden days' it was more to do with poor diet and the lack of enough calcium for growing children's bones rather than vitamin D, which was why we were given milk in school.

Stormer999

Ah got it rickets can occur via lack of vitamin D or lack of calcium. So could well be caused by parent vegetarians well covered up......

Bo-Jangles

I doubt very much if being vegetarian would be a precursor as most would get more than their fare share of calcium from leafy greens, seeds, nuts, dairy products and eggs.

Stormer999

How about a total junk food diet.....Mcd's etc...?

Bo-Jangles

To come full circle to a story in our news today, it seems lots of kids wouldn't get fed at all, if it were left to the parents.

'Our hungry kids: 40,000 NZ kids fed by charities'

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10740657

Stormer999

Unfortunately true of the UK as well suppose this is the start of rickets as you say full circle