Question

James is a 2-year-old African American boy who lives in Seattle. He was breastfed in his first year of life and, since this time, he has refused to drink milk or consume any other dairy products, as he does not like the taste. As a result, a recent checkup indicated that James has a disease called rickets, or inadequate mineralization of his skeleton. This would be considered a (primary/secondary) deficiency that (can/cannot) be treated with vitamin D supplementation.

Please answer the 2 bolded parts. Thank you.

Answer 1

Rickets- it is a disorder that causes softening and weakening of bones in children due to inadequate calcium in the body.

Answer to 1st part- this would be considered as a primary deficiency since it is because the child is not consuming milk and other dairy products which are a good source of calcium and vitamin D.It is not secondary because the deficiency is not due to any other disorder in the body.

Answer to 2nd part- this disease can be treated with vit D supplements. It will increase calcium absorption and will maintain proper mineralization of the child's bones.