Vitamin the vitamin. People who eat a varied diet are unlikely to develop a severe primary vitamin deficiency. In contrast, restrictive diets have the potential to cause prolonged vitamin deficits, which may result in often painful and potentially deadly diseases. Well-known human vitamin deficiencies involve thiamine (beriberi), niacin (pellagra), vitamin C (scurvy), and vitamin D (rickets). In much of the developed world, such deficiencies are rare; this is due to (1) an adequate supply of food and (2) the addition of vitamins and minerals to common foods (fortification). In addition to these classical vitamin deficiency diseases, some evidence has also suggested
Vitamin D deficiency in Australia deformities, hypocalcemia, tetany and seizures. During the late 19th century autopsies conducted in the Netherlands concluded that 80-90% of children were suffering from Rickets. The incidents of rickets observed within Sydney hospitals during the years of 2003 – 2004 have doubled. This major spike can be attributed to the growing population of migrants in Australia, many of whom are considered high risk of vitamin D deficiency. As shown in the image the skeletal deformities such as knock knees and bow legs in these young children as a result of rickets. Because of the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, conditions