Trivia

Hard

The Childhood Illness Known As “Rickets” Is Caused By A Deficiency Of?

Potassium
Vitamin D
Iodine
Dietary Iron

Answer: Vitamin D

For modern readers in developed nations, rickets is a childhood disease they may vaguely recall having learned about in a textbook years ago, but typically have never encountered themselves. For those in the developing world, however, rickets is still a serious affliction.

Rickets is a condition in which a child’s growing bones do not effectively mineralize due to insufficient or defective metabolizing of vitamin D, phosphorous, or calcium–with the leading cause of rickets being the lack of vitamin D. As a result of the deficiency, children grow with bowed legs, spinal and cranial deformities, and other developmental abnormalities as a result of poor bone development and fusion.

Although almost exclusively a problem in developing nations where periods of famine and undernourishment lead to a decreased intake of dietary vitamin D, there has also been a rise of cases in developed countries where poor dietary choices coupled with excessive use of sunblock (or little exposure to natural sunlight) lead to extreme vitamin D deficiencies and cases of rickets in populations that should otherwise be effectively immune.

More Trivia Questions

Trivia

Hard

Which Of These Compound Classes Is So Foul That Smelling It Hinders Research Into Them?

Trivia

Easy

Which Of The Following Negative Adjectives Derives Its Name Directly From Donkeys?

Trivia

Hard

The Handkerchief Was Popularized By?

Trivia

Hard

Which G.I. Joe Character Was Introduced To Save Money On Manufacturing Costs?

Trivia

Easy

Abundant Rose Bushes in Grape Vineyards Serve What Purpose?

Trivia

Easy

What Unit of Measurement Denotes Half A Byte?

Trivia

Hard

Florida Prisons Have Helped Solve Crimes By Distributing What To Inmates?

Trivia

Hard

Which Of These Men Is Considered The Father Of Public Relations?

Trivia

Hard

Iconic Children’s Toy Play-Doh Got Its Start As?

Trivia

Hard

Which Company Did Steve Jobs Ask To Build OSX-based Laptops?