In children, bowed legs due to vitamin D deficiency describe which condition?

• A. Rickets
• B. Osteomalacia
• C. Osteoporosis
• D. Osteogenesis imperfecta

Answer: (A)

Rickets is the bone-softening disease in children caused by vitamin D deficiency, which impairs mineralization of the growth plates. Because the bones are still growing, lack of mineral deposition makes them soft and able to bend under body weight, commonly producing bowed legs. In adults, the same deficiency causes osteomalacia, but bowing of the legs isn’t typical there since the growth plates have closed. Osteoporosis involves a loss of bone density with fractures, not a failure of mineralization causing deformity, and osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic collagen defect leading to brittle bones rather than vitamin D–related softening.