Treatment and Prevention
If a lack of vitamin D is causing osteomalacia, the patient will be advised to increase their vitamin D intake. Some foods rich in vitamin D are:
- cod liver oil
- egg yolks
- enriched or fortified milk and milk products
- fortified cereal
- herring, salmon, shrimp, sardines
The doctor may prescribe a concentrated supply of vitamin D as well as a calcium supplement. The doctor or dietitian may also suggest alternative sources of vitamin D for people who are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk.
Women who are feeding their babies only breast milk should ask their doctor if vitamin D supplements are necessary.
People with osteomalacia may be advised to get exposure to the sun but should be careful to avoid getting sunburned. It is better to stay in the sun for short periods (10 to 15 minutes) each day rather than for longer periods less frequently. This strategy decreases the chance of skin damage from the sun.
Some people may require braces to help realign the affected bones. Surgery may be necessary to realign severely deformed bones.
With successful treatment, osteomalacia can be eliminated and its effects completely healed after a modest period of time (usually several months).
Michael E. Makover, MD, is a professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor at NYU College of Arts and Sciences. He is in the private practice of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine in New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.