Vitamin D and Rickets
Everybody needs vitamin D for strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D is formed naturally when our skin is exposed to sunlight. We can also get vitamin D from some foods.
Babies and young children can develop a disease called rickets when they do not get enough vitamin D. Rickets prevents bones from developing properly and this can cause delays in sitting, crawling and walking. Rickets can also affect a child’s head bones, leg bones, ribs and wrists.
Today, young people are eating fewer
country foods rich in vitamin D, and because Nunavut is located so far north, people do not get enough sunlight. Sunscreen and clothing, which protect babies from the harmful effects of the sun, will not allow vitamin D to be formed. Nunavummiut are at risk of not getting enough vitamin D.
Vitamin D is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding women, babies, and children. Babies’ teeth and bones begin forming when they are inside their mother’s womb and grow rapidly once born.
Preventing Rickets
Rickets is 100 per cent preventable. To prevent rickets, all pregnant and nursing women, babies and children need to eat foods with vitamin D and take a vitamin D supplement every day.
Vitamin D drops are colored but they do not stain teeth. You can get vitamin D drops or tablets for free at your local health center. Talk to your Community Health Nurse.
You also need to eat foods rich in vitamin D:
- Fish, fish eggs
- Bird eggs (the yolk)
- Blubber
- Liver
- Milk
- Margarine
Click here to learn about vitamin D and country food.
Resources
Click here to learn about vitamin D and country food.
Click here to learn about vitamin D for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Click here to learn about vitamin D for infants.
Click here to learn about foods that have vitamin D.
More Information
For more information about vitamin D and rickets,
contact your local health centre or:
Territorial CPNP Coordinator
Phone: (867) 975-5700
Email