Casefile 11 : Vitamin D deficiency

Come one come all!!! Forensic Scientist Kelly is back!!! Haha, gosh I haven't been here for a long long time. Bet you all miss my lectures, haha =) Well, I sprained my ankle like really recently and it's like the second time for my left ankle. I won't tell you how many times I've sprained my right one...Haiz. All these sprains made me think if my bones were weak so i decided to do some research.

So, i found out this really interesting but important vitamin...(drum roll)...Vitamin D! You may think it's not important but it is! Vitamin D deficiency can occur:

• when usual intake is below recommended levels.
• when there is limited exposure to sunlight.
• when the kidney cannot convert vitamin D to its active hormone form.
• when someone cannot adequately absorb vitamin D from the digestive tract.

Vitamin D deficiency causes diseases like rickets and osteomalacia. Rickets occurs in children. It is a bone disease characterised by a failure to properly mineralise bone tissue. It results in soft bones and skeletal deformities. Here's an interesting fact : In the late 19th and early 20th century, German physicians noted that consuming 1 to 3 teaspoons (3 teaspoons is equal to 1 tablespoon) of cod liver oil per day could reverse rickets. Isn't that cool?

Prolonged breastfeeding without Vitamin D supplementation can also lead to rickets. In addition, extensive use of sunscreen and increased day-care also lead to Vitamin D deficiency. Why??? Because increased day-care results in children having lesser outdoor activities and sun exposure.

Rickets is more common among immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Middle Eastern countries. Immigrants from these regions are more likely to follow the dress code that limit sun exposure thus leading to Vitamin D deficiency. In addition, darker pigmented skin converts UV rays to vitamin D less efficiently than lighter skin. So forget about getting a tan people! Haha...

X-ray of a child with rickets:

In adults, Vitamin dificiency results in osteomalacia, which causes muscle weakness in addition to weak bones. See that weak spot in that picture below?

Vitamin D dificiency can also lead to osteoporosis. While rickets and osteomalacia are extreme examples of Vitamin D dificiency, osteoporosis is a long-term effect of Vitamin D insufficiency. Adequate storage levels of Vitamin D help keep bones strong and may help prevent osteoporosis in older adults, in non-ambulatory individuals (those who have difficulty walking and exercising), in post-menopausal women, and in individuals on chronic steroid therapy. So you see, it's not only calcium which keeps our bones strong!

However, we must also take care not to take in too much Vitamin D. Vitamin D toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. It can also raise blood levels of calcium, causing mental status changes such as confusion. Sun exposure is unlikely to result in Vitamin D toxicity. Diet is also an unlikely cause, unless large amounts of cod liver oil are consumed, haha. Vitamin D toxicity is much more likely to occur from high intakes of Vitamin D in supplements.

Wow man, my lectures are still so long. I bet you all are sleeping now. Haha, by the way detective cxy, THAT PICTURE YOU POSTED WAS THE MOST DISGUSTING, GROSS AND REVOLTING PICTURE I HAVE EVER SEEN! It can be compared to that advertisement that asks you to quit smoking! Gosh...

By Forensic Scientist Kelly =)