Modern lifestyle bringing back rickets to Britain

LONDON - Rickets, a ‘17th century diseases’ caused by low levels of vitamin D, is rearing its ugly head in Britain after 80 years, and modern lifestyle is to blame.

It is thought that extensive use of sunscreens, children playing computer games and watching TV rather than being outdoors and a poor diet are to blame.

Children from all backgrounds are being affected now and the disease is not limited to the poor as it was in Victorian times, reports the Telegraph.

Nicholas Clarke, professor of paediatric orthopaedic surgery at the University of Southampton in UK, and colleague Justin Davies, paediatric endocrinologist, have checked over 200 children for bone problems.

More than 20 percent of them have significant deficiencies. “A lot of the children we’ve seen have got low vitamin D and require treatment,” said Clarke.

“This is almost certainly a combination of the modern lifestyle, which involves a lack of exposure to sunlight, but also covering up in sunshine, and we’re seeing cases that are very reminiscent of 17th century England.”

Prof Clarke says vitamin D supplements should be more widely adopted to halt the rise in cases. Vitamin D is found in oily fish and eggs and margarine, cereals and milk can be fortified with it.

The vitamin is vital for the absorption of calcium needed for strong bones and teeth.