Osteomalacia: Understanding the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
By Dr. Shubham Pandey +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shubham Pandey
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Shubham Pandey +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shubham Pandey
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Table of Contents
Osteomalacia can make your bones soft. This happens when there isn’t enough mineral in the bone. This can make your bones weak and easy to break. It’s important to know what causes it, its signs, and how to manage it. This may help you keep your bones as healthy as possible. As public awareness of a disease may help reduce it’s negative impacts.
In this article, we’ll discuss about what osteomalacia is. We’ll explore its symptoms and root causes. We’ll also tell you how doctors diagnose it and what management options are available. On top of that, we’ll discuss the complications linked to the illness and how you may avoid them.
Did you know?
Osteomalacia is a disease where there is not enough mineral in the bones. This softens the bones, making them weak and painful. It increases their likelihood of fractures. It usually occurs in adults. However, a similar condition called rickets can affect children.
In simple terms, osteomalacia is a bone disorder. There is disruption of the bone hardening process. This makes the bones weak and prone to breaking. The disease develops when the new bone does not take in minerals well. This leaves the bone soft and easy to damage.
Bone mineralization is the process that makes our bones grow and harden. It gives our body shape and support. This process happens when minerals, like calcium and phosphate, get added to the bone’s cells. If these minerals are absent or if they are not used well, the bones can soften. This leads to osteomalacia.
Both osteomalacia and rickets happen because there is not enough mineralization in the bones. However, they affect different age groups. Osteomalacia mainly affects adults, while rickets is found in children. Osteomalacia softens bones and raises the risk of fractures in adults. Rickets, on the other hand, can deform bones and slow growth in children.
Difference Between Osteomalacia and Osteoporosis
These two conditions may both involve the bones, yet they are not the same. Osteomalacia is a lack of bone hardening that results in softer bones. But osteoporosis is the loss of bone mass. This ends up making the bones brittle and prone to fractures. Both the conditions affect adults, but osteoporosis is more prevalent in postmenopausal women.
Let’s see how these two diseases are compared in the following table.
| Osteomalacia | Osteoporosis |
| Inadequate bone mineralization | Reduced bone mass and density |
| Softened bones | Brittle bones |
| Affects adults | Affects adults, primarily postmenopausal women |
Several things can cause osteomalacia which are discussed below.
Vitamin D is very important for bone health. If you lack it, your body will struggle to absorb calcium. This can lead to osteomalacia. Vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause of osteomalacia.
2. Lack of Sun Exposure
Your body makes vitamin D when it’s exposed to the sun. So, if you live in a place that gets little sunlight, you may not get enough vitamin D. The same is true if you spend a lot of time indoors. This can increase your risk of osteomalacia.
Not eating enough foods that are rich in vitamin D can also affect your bone health. Foods like oily fish, egg yolks, and dairy products can give you vitamin D. If you don’t eat these, you can end up with a lack of vitamin D. This can then raise your risk of osteomalacia.
Some disorders of the kidney or liver can disrupt your body’s ability to work with vitamin D. When this happens, you get deficient in vitamin D. This shortage can then cause osteomalacia.
Some drugs can prevent your body from using vitamin D properly. Examples include anticonvulsants and certain antacids. This can lead to a lack of vitamin D. As a result, your risk for osteomalacia can increase.
Some rare, inherited diseases can cause osteomalacia. These diseases mess with how your body deals with vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus. They include familial hypophosphatemia, Fanconi syndrome, and X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.
In certain cases, small tumors in the bones or soft tissues can cause osteomalacia. This type of osteomalacia is sometimes called tumor-induced or oncogenic osteomalacia.
Osteomalacia comes with a range of symptoms which are described below.
Bone pain is one of the most common symptoms of osteomalacia. The pain can be spread out and hit multiple body parts. It may be worse when you walk or put weight on the affected bones.
Getting tired easily, thigh and hip muscle weakness could be a sign of osteomalacia. This muscle weakness can make it hard for you to do common tasks. Things like climbing stairs or standing up from a sitting position can be tough.
Having soft bones also means you’re more likely to get fractures. Fractures from osteomalacia can happen without warning or with small injuries.
In bad cases of osteomalacia, your bones may become deformed. One such deformity is a hunched-back. For this to happen, osteomalacia would have to go untreated for a long time.
Osteomalacia can also show itself in less clear ways. You may feel tired or have trouble walking. Some general discomfort may also be there. These symptoms can be misdiagnosed at first.
In my experience, additional therapies to address or alleviate the symptoms of osteomalacia might be:
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D
Braces to lessen or avoid abnormalities in the bones
Surgery (in severe cases) to cure bone malformations
To diagnose osteomalacia, doctors will look at how you present your symptoms. They’ll also do laboratory tests and imaging studies. This helps to rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms.
Doctors will start by looking at your medical history. They’ll also do a physical examination. This can help them spot signs and symptoms of the disease. The presence of risk factors, such as staying indoors a lot or eating a poor diet, also plays a role.
Doctors can do blood and urine tests to spot signs of osteomalacia. Low levels of calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D can be a strong sign. High levels of other markers, like alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone, can also point to it.
Blood tests can check for levels of calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone. These results can be crucial in finding out if you have osteomalacia.
Doing urine tests can show if your body is getting rid of too much calcium and phosphorus. If it is, your kidneys may not be keeping enough of these minerals. That can lead to osteomalacia.
Imaging tests, like X-rays and bone scans, can also be key. This is because they can show if your bones have thinned or fractured. They can even spot areas where mineralization has not been completed.
It’s also important to tell osteomalacia from other conditions. Conditions like osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, fibromyalgia, and certain cancers may share similar symptoms. That’s why doctors will do a careful checkup and test you in the right way. This can help them confirm if you have osteomalacia.
Assessing the quantity of calcium and other minerals in a patient’s bone section may be possible with the use of a bone mineral density scan. The diagnosis of osteomalacia can be made without these images. Nonetheless, they could provide crucial details regarding a patient’s bone health.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
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To manage osteomalacia, doctors will try to correct its root cause. They might try to correct a lack of vitamin D and calcium. They could increase sunlight exposure. They might also try to treat any conditions that are causing it. Besides this, they’ll advise on lifestyle and diet changes. Using medications and physiotherapy might be needed too.
If your osteomalacia comes from a lack of vitamin D, you might need to take in more of it. Your doctor may prescribe oral vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate supplements. These can help fill up the stores of these essential nutrients. Consequently, this can make your bones harder and get rid of symptoms.
Getting more sunlight every day can help your body make more vitamin D. In turn, this can improve the hardness of your bones. It can make your overall bone health better as well.
To manage osteomalacia, doctors will also need to treat its root cause. So, if you have any kidney or liver disorders, those will need management. Tumor-induced osteomalacia needs tumors to be identified and dealt with. This can alleviate symptoms and give your bones strength.
Eating a balanced diet that’s rich in vitamin D and calcium is a good idea. Regular weight-bearing exercises also help strengthen the bones. Living a healthy lifestyle, in general, may promote bone health and avoid osteomalacia.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to address underlying conditions or specific causes of osteomalacia. Each patient will receive suitable medications based on their individual needs. The effectiveness of these will be monitored closely.
Physiotherapy may help manage osteomalacia. It may strengthen your muscles and enhance mobility by giving the necessary support. It can make life better for people with osteomalacia.
If left untreated, osteomalacia can cause problems like chronic bone pain and a higher risk of fractures. It can even lead to disability, trouble moving, and lower quality of life.
The pain that comes with osteomalacia can become chronic or long-term. This can happen if the disease remains untreated. It can seriously affect your daily activities and overall well-being.
Having softer bones increases your risk of fractures. People with osteomalacia are more prone to having their bones break. This can cause additional pain and complications.
Moving around can become tough when you have osteomalacia. This is due to weakened bones and muscle weakness. This can make it hard to carry out everyday tasks. As a result, you may become disabled.
Untreated osteomalacia can also lead to a lowered quality of life. Chronic pain, disability, and moving issues can all play a part. With everything put together, you may face emotional distress and challenges to your independence.
Early diagnosis and right management may greatly help people with osteomalacia. Reducing the risk of getting the disease involves making sure you get enough vitamin D and time in the sun. Eating a balanced diet is also crucial. High-risk people should also visit their doctors regularly.
People with osteomalacia usually fare well when their disease is caught early and managed properly. Symptoms often get better within weeks of starting therapy. Full healing of the bone may happen in about six months. Still, ongoing follow-ups and management may be needed to keep bones in their best health.
Also Read: How to Dissolve Bone Spurs Naturally?
Make sure you get enough vitamin D. Spend some time out in the sun and eat a balanced diet. Those who are at a higher risk should visit their healthcare provider regularly.
Getting enough vitamin D daily may lower your risk of osteomalacia. You can get this nutrient by eating certain foods, taking supplements, or just getting some sun.
Spending time where there’s sunlight is good for you. Your body can get vitamin D this way. This promotes good bone hardness and lowers your risk of osteomalacia.
Eating foods rich in vitamin D and calcium is great for bone health. These nutrients may help avoid osteomalacia. So, include foods like fish, dairy goods, and leafy greens in your diet.
If you’re at risk of osteomalacia, go for regular checkups. People with related diseases or those on certain medications should do this often. Checking your bone health and looking for early signs may help your doctor catch the disease early.
Osteomalacia is a grave condition of the bones. It’s marked by a lack of minerals in the bones. This softens and weakens them. If found and managed early, you may be able to manage this disease and keep off complications. Signs include chronic pain, fractures, and loss of mobility. With good medical care and lifestyle changes, you may have good outcomes in the long run. You may also maintain a good state of bone health.
Knowing what causes osteomalacia, its symptoms, and management options, is key to maintaining healthy bones. By taking measures to reduce your risk and tracking your bone health, you may lower your risk of getting osteomalacia.
The 5 symptoms of osteomalacia are:
Bone pain
Muscle weakness
Fractures
Trouble walking
Structural changes in the bone (in severe cases)
Osteomalacia may be managed with medical guidance. The specific management options depends on the cause. It often involves supplements like vitamin D, calcium, or phosphates. You might also need more exposure to sunlight. Any underlying conditions should also be addressed. With the right plan, patients usually do well, and bone health may be retained.
In osteomalacia, not enough mineral makes it to the bones. This ends up softening them. But in osteoporosis, the problem is less bone mass. This makes the bone brittle and prone to fractures.
1. Vitamin D deficiency (due to poor diet or lack of sun exposure)
2. Kidney or liver diseases that affect how your body uses vitamin D
3. Certain drugs that interfere with your body’s usage of vitamin D
You may avoid or try to reduce the risk of osteomalacia by ensuring enough intake of vitamin D. You may do this through diet, supplements, or exposure to the sun. You should also eat a balanced diet that’s rich in calcium and vitamin D. People at higher risk should go for regular check-ups with your healthcare providers.
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