os·te·o·ma·la·cia

(ŏs′tē-ō-mə-lā′shə, -shē-ə)

A bone disease in adults analogous to rickets in children, marked by bone demineralization caused by impaired metabolism or deficiency of vitamin D or phosphorus.

[New Latin : osteo- + Greek malakiā, softness (from malakos, soft; see mel- in Indo-European roots).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

osteomalacia

(ˌɒstɪəʊməˈleɪʃɪə)

(Pathology) a disease in adults characterized by softening of the bones, resulting from a deficiency of vitamin D and of calcium and phosphorus

[C19: from New Latin, from osteo- + Greek malakia softness]

ˌosteomaˈlacial, osteomalacic adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

os•te•o•ma•la•cia

(ˌɒs ti oʊ məˈleɪ ʃə, -ʃi ə)

n.

a condition characterized by softening of the bones with resultant pain, weakness, and bone fragility.

[1815–25]

os`te•o•ma•la′cial, adj.

osteomalacia

softening of the bones resulting from malnutrition and the consequent loss of essential salts from the bones.

osteomalacia

A group of disorders caused by lack of vitamin D. With insufficient minerals, bones soften and weaken. Weightbearing bones may bend or fracture.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

osteomalacia - abnormal softening of bones caused by deficiencies of phosphorus or calcium or vitamin D

malacia - a state of abnormal softening of tissue

demineralisation, demineralization - abnormal loss of mineral salts (especially from bone)

Translations

osteomalacia

[ˌɒstɪəʊməˈleɪʃɪə] N → osteomalacia f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

osteomalacia

n osteomalacia

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Adults can get a similar condition, called osteomalacia (soft bones).

Rickets and osteomalacia; DR MIRIAM STOPPARD; Helping to keep you fit and healthy; 2 MINUTES ON

Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a number of illnesses, including rickets and osteomalacia, which weaken bone tissue.

Sun-drenched Middle East has a high vitamin D deficiency rate. Why?

Overall, when vitamin D deficiency is severe (serum 25-OHD level [less than or equal to]12 ng/mL) bone metabolism deteriorates and diseases such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults result (23).

Use of Vitamin D in Children and Adults: Frequently Asked Questions

However, others have argued that there is still not enough evidence that vitamin D supplementation prevents disease, except in people who are at high risk of the bone condition osteomalacia.

Vitamin D supplements may prevent winter infections

Researchers said taking the supplement would only be useful for high risk groups who want to prevent rare conditions such as rickets and osteomalacia, which can occur due to vitamin D deficiency.

Bone of contention over vitamin D

The authors conclude that there is little justification to use vitamin D supplements to maintain or improve musculoskeletal health, except for the prevention of rare conditions such as rickets and osteomalacia in high-risk groups, which can occur due to vitamin D deficiency after a prolonged lack of exposure to sunshine.

'Taking Vitamin D supplements won't prevent fractures'

Vitamin D is known to be essential for bone metabolism, and low serum 25(OH)D levels increase the risk of rickets, osteomalacia, and osteopenia.

High vitamin D levels linked to lower cholesterol levels in children

This is concerning, given insufficient vitamin D can lead to brittle, soft, thin bones, resulting in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

Get the Facts on Vitamin D Supplements

*bone problems such as rickets, or bone softness among children, and osteomalacia, or bone pain and weak muscles

Vitamin DO!

FGF23 is being researched in the context of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, mineral bone disorder (MBD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), tumor-induced osteomalacia and hyperphosphatemia.

Eagle Biosciences Introduces New Intact FGF23 ELISA Assay Kit

Initially, bone loss was attributed primarily to nutritional deficiencies (which can range from malabsorption to frank osteomalacia) and the effects of skeletal unloading due to weight loss.

Bad Breaks