INFORMATION SHEET
OSTEOMALACIA (in Gujarati)
Osteomalacia
Osteomalacia, meaning soft bones, is a con-
dition which affects the skeleton. The bones may
bend, particularly in children, and can also break
easily. It is often, but not always, caused by lack
of vitamin D. In this country, people of South
Asian origin are often affected by osteomalacia.
For healthy bones the body needs calcium, phos-
phorus and vitamin D. If the body does not have
enough of any one of these, osteomalacia will
develop. Calcium and phosphorous deficiency
are rare. The most common cause of osteomalacia
is a lack of vitamin D.
VITAMIN D
The body can make its own vitamin D. When
sunlight falls on the skin cholesterol in the
skin is turned into vitamin D. Vitamin D helps
calcium and phosphorous to be absorbed and
incorporated into the bones. During the summer,
the skin produces enough vitamin D for the body
to build up a store for the winter.
Your diet can also provide vitamin D. Oily fish
such as mackerel, herring and kippers are good
sources – one portion each week is probably
sufficient. Eggs, dairy products and margarine
also contain vitamin D. Some foods, such as
breakfast cereals, have vitamin D added. Most
foods, however, contain very little vitamin D.
Certain groups of people, who get less exposure
to sunlight, are at risk from vitamin D deficiency.
Elderly people, people who are too ill to go out,
and people who cover their skin for religious
purposes (for example, with the burka) may not
make enough vitamin D in their skin, and will
need to make sure that they get enough from
their diet or take supplements.
WHY ARE PEOPLE OF SOUTH
ASIAN BACKGROUND MORE AT
RISK?
There are two main reasons for this:
Sunlight
Dark skin is protective in parts of the world
PUBLISHED BY THE ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN (arc), COPEMAN HOUSE, ST MARY’S COURT,
ST MARY’S GATE, CHESTERFIELD, DERBYSHIRE S41 7TD. REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 207711.
AaisTAaomalaoisaAaÊ AoTlao ko narma haDkaMÊ Ao
haDkaMnaa ZaMcaanao Asar krtI Aok pirisqait Co.
Kasa krInao baaLkaomaaMÊ haDkaM vaLI Sako CoÊ Anao
sarLtaqaI tUTI pNa Sako Co. Ao maaoTa BaagaoÊ pNa
hMmaoSaa naihÊ ivaTamaIna DI naI ]Napnao laIQao qaaya
Co. Aa doSamaaMÊ maUL dixaNa AoiSayaanaa laaokao
GaNaIvaar AaoisTAaomalaoisaAaqaI pIDaya Co.
svasqa haDkaM maaTo SarIrnao koilSayamaÊ faosfoTsa
Anao ivaTamaIna DI naI j$r pDo Co. jao SarIrnao
AamaaMnauM kao[pNa Aok pyaa-Pt maa~amaaM na
maLo taoÊ AaoisTAaomalaoisaAa ivakasa pamaSao.
koilsayama Anao faosfoTsanaI ]Nap jUj Co.
AaoisTAaomalaoisaAanauM saaOqaI saamaanya karNa
ivaTaimana DI naI ]Nap Co.
ivaTaimana DI
SarIr svayaM paotanauM ivaTaimana DI banaavaI Sako Co.
jyaaro caamaDI pr saUya-p`kaSa pDo Co %yaaro caamaDImaaM
kaolaosT/aola ivaTaimana DI maaM forvaa[ jaya Co.
ivaTaimana DI haDkaMmaaM koilsayama Anao faosfoTsa
SaaoYavaamaaM madd kro Co. ]naaLamaaM caamaDI SarIr
maaTo pyaa-Pt ivaTaimana DI ]%pnna krI do Co jo
iSayaaLamaaM pNa caalao.
tmaarao Kaorak pNa ivaTaimana DI pUruM paDI Sako
Co. tOlaI maaClaI jovaI ko maokorolaÊ hoirMga Anao
ikpsa- saara s~aotao Co - kdaca dr AzvaaiDyao Aok
Baaga pyaa-Pt Co. [MDaÊ dUQanaa ]%padnaao Anao
maagaa-irna pNa ivaTaimana DI Qaravao Co. Amauk
Kaorakao jovaa koÊ naastanaa isairyalsamaaM ivaTaimana
DI ]maorayauM haoya Co. prMtuÊ maaoTaBaaganaa KaorakmaaM
ivaTaimana DI bahu AaoCI maa~amaaM haoya Co.
Amauk jUqanaa laaokaoÊ joAaonao AaoCao saUya-p`kaSa
maLo CoÊ tomanao ivaTaimana DI naI ]Nap qavaanauM
jaoKma rholauM Co. vaRw laaokaoÊ joAao bahar naIkLI
na Sakta haoya Aovaa KUba j baImaar laaokaoÊ
Anao Qaaima-k karNaaonao laIQao joAao tomanaI caamaDI
ZaMkI lao Co ³joma koÊ baurKa´ toAao kdaca tomanaI
caamaDImaaM pyaa-Pt ivaTaimana DI na banaavaI SakoÊ
Anao AaqaI toAaoAo KatrI krvaI pDSao ko toAao
tomanaa Kaorak Anao Anya pUrvaNaIAaomaaMqaI pyaa-
Pt maa~amaaM ivaTaimana DI maoLvaI lao Co.
Saa maaTo maUL dixaNa AoiSayaanaa laaokao
vaQau jaoKma Qaravao CoÆ
Aanaa mau#ya bao karNaao CoÁ
where the sun is intense. In areas where there is
less daily sunlight (such as the UK) dark skin may
be ‘overprotective’ and the skin may produce
less vitamin D. Traditional dress, such as the
burka, will also reduce the ability of your skin
to produce vitamin D, because it stops sunlight
falling on the skin.
Diet
Diet is particularly important for people who
do not produce enough vitamin D in the skin.
Vegans (who don’t eat meat, fish or dairy prod-
ucts) are most at risk, as they get very little vit-
amin D or calcium. But you can also be at risk if
you are on a lacto-vegetarian diet (you eat dairy
products but not meat or fish). This provides
calcium but may not contain enough vitamin D,
which is needed to absorb the calcium. Chapatti
flour may also reduce the absorption of calcium
from the stomach.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF
OSTEOMALACIA?
Osteomalacia causes bone pain and muscle
weakness, but symptoms are so vague that they
may be put down to ‘rheumatics’ or ‘fibrositis’. It
is common for people to suffer from osteomalacia
for 2–3 years before it is diagnosed.
The pain does not normally affect any one part
of the body, but is most often felt in the legs, the
groin, upper thighs, and knees, and sometimes
in the feet when you stand, walk or run. Sitting
or lying down relieves the pain. Backache is
common, and sometimes a minor knock is
unnaturally painful.
Some of the pain is caused by slight cracks in
the bone (partial fractures), which are visible
on x-rays. Occasionally the cracks can lead to
complete breaks (complete fractures), but these
will heal once treatment begins.
Muscle weakness tends to affect the thighs and
the shoulders making it difficult to climb stairs or
get out of a chair. Sometimes people walk with a
waddle, rocking from side to side. If your illness
is very severe you may not be able to get out of
bed.
HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
A simple blood test is all that is needed – the
levels of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D are
saUya-p`kaSa
duinayaanaa jo BaagaaomaaM saUya- Aakrao Co %yaaM kaLI
caamaDI rxaNa pUruM paDo Co. jo BaagaaomaaM idvasanaa
AaoCao saUya-p`kaSa haoya Co ³joma ko yaukomaaM´ %yaaM
kaLI caamaDI 'vaQau pDtuM rxaNa' pUruM paDo Co Anao
kdaca caamaDI AaoCuM ivaTaimana DI ]%pnna kro.
parMpairk vas~aoÊ jovaa ko baurKaÊ pNa kdaca
tmaarI caamaDInaI ivaTaimana DI ]%pnna krvaanaI
samaqa-ta AaoCI krI doÊ karNa ko Ao saUya-p`kaSanao
tmaarI caamaDI pr pDta raoko Co.
Kaorak
Kaorak Kasa krInao Aovaa laaokao maaTo mah<vanaao
Co joAao caamaDImaaM pyaa-Pt ivaTaimana DI ]%pnna
naqaI krta. caust SaakaharIAao ³joAao maaMsaÊ
maaClaI ko dUQanaa ]%padnaao naqaI Kata´ vaQau
jaoKma hozL CoÊ karNa ko tomanao ivaTaimana DI ko
koilsayama KUba j AaoCI maa~amaaM maLo Co. prMtu
jao tmao saamaanya SaakaharI hao ³maaMsaÊ maaClaI na
Kata hao pNa tmao dUQanaI podaSaao Kata hao´Ê tao
pNa tmanao jaoKma Co. Aa koilsayama pUruM paDo CoÊ
pNa kdaca ivaTaimana DI pyaa-Pt maa~amaaM na maLo
jo koilsayamanao SaaoYavaa maaTo j$rI Co. raoTlaInaao
laaoT pNa kdaca poTmaaMqaI koilsayama SaaoYavaanauM
AaoCuM krI do.
AaoisTAaomalaoisaAanaa laxaNaao kyaa CoÆ
AaoisTAaomalaoisaAanao laIQao haDkamaaM duKavaao
Anao snaayauAaomaaM nabaLa[ laagaoÊ prMtu laxaNaao
AoTlaa AspYT Co ko tomanao 'rhyaumaoiTk\sa' ko
'fa[ba`aoisaiTsa' trIko pNa AaoLKI Sakaya.
saamaanya rIto AaoisTAaomalaoisaAanauM inadana qataM
pholaaM 2–3 vaYaao- sauQaI laaokao tonaaqaI pIData haoya
Co.
saamaanya rIto duKavaao SarIrnaa kao[ Aok Baaganao
Asar naqaI krtaoÊ pNa maaoTa Baagao Ao pgamaaMÊ
jaMGanaa saaMQaamaaMÊ saaqaLnaa ]prnaa BaagamaaM Anao
GaUMTNamaaM AnauBavaaya CoÊ Anao kao[kvaar tmao
]Baa rhaoÊ ko daoDao %yaaro pgamaaM duKavaao jNaaya
Co. baosavaaqaI ko AaDa pDvaaqaI duKavaamaaM raht
qaaya Co. pIzmaaM duKavaao saamaanya CoÊ Anao
Amaukvaar naanakDao Qakkao pNa AsaamaanyarIto
duKo Co.
Amauk duKavaao haDkamaaM pDolaI naanaI itraDaonao
laIQao ³AaMiSak Íokcasa-´ haoya CoÊ jo Aok\saromaaM
doKaya Co. kyaarok Aa itraDaonao laIQao haDkuM
saMpUNa- rIto tUTo Co ³saMpUNa- Íokcasa-´Ê pNa Aokvaar
icaik%saa Sa$ qayaa baad Ao zIk qa[ jSao.
snaayauAaonaI nabaLa[ saaqaL Anao KBaanao Asar
kro CoÊ joqaI dadra caZvaa ko KurSaImaaMqaI ]Baa
qavaamaaM mauSkolaI pDo Co. kyaarok laaokao AokbaajuqaI
baIŸ baaju halakDaolak qata saoDla la[nao caalao
Co. jao tmaarI baImaarI KUba j gaMBaIr hSao tao
tmao kdaca plaMga prqaI ]Baa pNa naih qa[
Sakao.
easily measured. An x-ray may show the typical
partial fractures. Your doctor will take particular
note of your diet and any tablets you are taking,
and any family history of bone disorders.
HOW IS IT TREATED?
Treatment will usually cure osteomalacia, although
it may take several months for symptoms to
improve. Daily treatment with vitamin D tablets
is all that is needed. Alternatively, some doctors
may give an injection once a year. Calcium
supplements are also advised, particularly if the
diet is poor in calcium and phosphate. Foods
rich in calcium are dairy products, bread and
some fish, particularly those where the bones
are included such as tinned sardines. Vitamin D
supplements will be required over a long period
to prevent the osteomalacia coming back.
RARER CAUSES OF OSTEOMALACIA
Although lack of vitamin D is the most common
cause of osteomalacia your doctor will need
to check for rarer causes such as liver disease,
kidney failure and coeliac disease. Some cases of
osteomalacia are due to inherited abnormalities
in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorous.
Osteomalacia can also be caused by tablets
for epilepsy, or it can sometimes happen after
stomach surgery.
These other causes are generally detected by
blood tests and x-rays, similar to those described
above.
People with the rarer causes of osteomalacia
often need lifelong supervision from their
doctor. People with kidney failure or inherited
forms of osteomalacia usually need special forms
of vitamin D (calcitriol), which is normally
produced by the kidney. They will need to be
monitored regularly in hospital.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MYSELF?
Look carefully at your diet, or ask to see a
dietitian. Foods high in vitamin D and calcium
are mentioned above. You may need to take
supplements, particularly if you are elderly, preg-
nant or breastfeeding, or if you wear traditional
dress that covers much of the skin. Some chapatti
flours now have added vitamin D – check the
packaging for this information.
AonauM inadana kovaI rIto kraya CoÆ
maa~ Aok saadI laaohInaI tpasa j$rI Co - jomaaM
koilsayamaÊ faosfoTsa Anao ivaTaimana DI naI maa~a
sarLtaqaI maapvaamaaM Aavao Co. Aok\sa¹ro maaM
AaMiSak Íokcasa- kdaca doKaya Aavao. tmaara
DaokTr Kasa krInao tmaara Kaorak Anao tmao jo
ToblaoT\sa laota hao AonaI naaoMQa laoSaoÊ tomaj tmaara
kuTuMbamaaM haDkaMnaI tklaIfnaa [ithasa ivaSao
pUCSao.
Aonaao ]pcaar k[ rIto qaaya CoÆ
]pcaarqaI AaoisTAaomalaoisaAa maTI jSaoÊ pNa
laxaNaaonao sauQarta kdaca maihnaaAao laagaI jaya.
maa~ raojnaI ivaTaimana DI naI ToblaoT\sanaao ]pcaar
j$rI Co. vaOkilpk rIto Amauk DaookTsa- vaYa-
maaM Aok [MjokSana Aapo Co. jao KaorakmaaM
koilsayama banao faosfoTnaI maa~a AaoCI haoya taoÊ
koilsayamanaI pUrvaNaIAaonaI pNa BalaamaNa kraya
Co. koilsayamanaI ivapula maa~a Qaravata Kaorak
Co dUQanaI banaavaTao jovaI ko pa]M Anao Amauk
maaClaIAaoÊ Kasa krInao jomaaM haDkaM samaaivaYT
haoya Co jovaI ko TInD saaiD-nsa. ivaTaimana DI naI
pUrvaNaI laaMbaao samaya caalau raKvaI pDSao joqaI
frIqaI AaoisTAaomalaoisaAa ]qalaao na maaro.
AaoisTAaomalaoisaAanaa jUj karNaao
Aama tao AaoisTAaomalaoisaAa qavaanauM saaOqaI
saamaanya karNa ivaTaimana DI naI ]Nap haoya
CoÊ prMtu tmaara DaokTro jUj karNaao jovaa ko
laIvarnaao raogaÊ ikDnaI kama na krtI haoya Anao
kaoilaAak raoga maaTo pNa tpasa krvaI pDSao.
AaoisTAaomalaoisaAanaa Amauk ikssaaAao koilsayama
Anao faosfrsanaa rasaayaiNak pirvat-namaaM maLolaI
vaarsaagat Asaamaanyatanao karNao haoya Co.
AaoisTAaomalaoisaAa vaa[naI ToblaoT\sanao laIQaoÊ
Aqavaa Amaukvaar poTnaa AaoproSana pCI pNa qa[
Sako Co.
Aa Anya karNaao saamaanyarIto ]pr jNaavyaa
maujbanaI laaohInaI tpasa Anao Aok\sa¹roqaI SaaoQaaya
Co.
jUj karNaaoqaI AaoisTAaomalaoisaAa Qaravata
laaokaonauM tomanaa DaokTr Wara Ÿvanapya-Mt Qyaana
raKvauM pDo Co. ikDnaI kama na krtI haoya ko
AaoisTAaomalaoisaAanaa vaarsaagat p`karvaaLa
laaokaonao ivaiSaYT p`karnaa ivaTaimana DI ³koilsaT/
aola´naI j$r pDo Co. tomanaI inayaimatpNao
haoispTlamaaM doKroK raKvaI pDSao.
huM manao madd krvaa SauM krI SakuMÆ
tmaara Kaoraknao QyaanapUva-k juAaoÊ Aqavaa kao[
DayaoiTSaIyananao maLao. ivaTaimana DI Anao koilsayama
ivapula maa~amaaM Qaravata Kaorakao ]pr jNaavyaa
Co.
 SUMMARY
OSTEOMALACIA (in Gujarati) Osteomalacia often happens because of a lack
of vitamin D. It causes severe bone pain and
muscle weakness. In most cases, after treatment
with vitamin D, the osteomalacia is cured and
symptoms will disappear. Even the rarer causes
can be successfully treated with long-term
treatment.
tmanao kdaca ivaTaimana DI Anao koilsayamanaI
pUrvaNaIAao laovaI pDoÊ Kasa krInao jao tmao vaRw
haoÊ sagaBaa- hao ko stnapaana kravata haoÊ Aqavaa
tmao caamaDInao ZaMkta vas~ao phorta hao. Amauk
raoTlaInaa laaoTmaaM hvao ivaTaimana DI ]maorvaamaaM
Aavao CoÊ Aa maaihtI maaTo pokoŸMga juAao.
saaraMSa
AaoisTAaomalaoisaAa maaoTa Baagao ivaTaimana
DI naI ]Napnao laIQao qaaya Co. tonao laIQao
haDkaMmaaM saKt duKavaao qaaya Co Anao
snaayauAaomaaM nabaLa[ jNaaya Co. maaoTa Baaganaa
ikssaaAaomaaM ivaTaimana DI saaqaonaI icaik%saa
pCI AaoisTAaomalaoisaAa maTI jaya Co Anao
laxaNaao Ad`Sya qa[ jSao. jUj karNaaonao pNa
laaMbaI¹maudtnaI icaik%saaqaI safLtapUva-k maTaDI
Sakaya Co.

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