Rickets

Overview

Vitamin D (3 studies) prevents and treats rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency; people with kidney failure should use calcitriol instead. Calcium (2 studies) helps heal rickets caused by dietary calcium deficiency, with 1000 mg daily appearing more effective than 500 mg over about six months, and no extra benefit from 2000 mg.

Combined vitamin D and calcium supplementation may accelerate bone recovery. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below.

Effect graph

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Relevant supplements

Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.


Calcium	★★★★★	Medium
Vitamin D	★★★★★	Very Low / None

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Studies

Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.

2 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.

CalciumView supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeMediumEvidenceLowTrustMedium

Evidence Review

Rickets is a bone problem in children, most often caused by not enough vitamin D, but it can also happen when a child's diet is very low in calcium.
Taking calcium supplements can help heal rickets caused by low calcium.
Studies show that taking 500 to 2000 mg of calcium every day for about six months improves bones health, with 1000 mg working better than 500 mg and no extra benefit from using 2000 mg instead of 1000 mg.
Adding vitamin D to calcium usually helps bones recover even faster.

Browse 2 studies

Nutritional Rickets and Osteomalacia in the Twenty-first Century: Revised Concepts, Public Health, and Prevention Strategies2017

A consensus review recommends 400 IU infant vitamin D and 600 IU in pregnancy alongside adequate calcium to prevent rickets and osteomalacia globally.

Dose: 400 IU/day
Population: Pregnant women

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RCTOptimal Dose of Calcium for Treatment of Nutritional Rickets: A Randomized Controlled Trial2016n=23

In 65 Nigerian children with rickets, 1000 mg/day calcium healed radiographic disease faster than 500 mg/day over 24 weeks; 2000 mg/day offered no extra benefit.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 24 weeks
Dose: 1000 mg/day
Population: Children/adolescents
Participants: 23

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Vitamin DView supplement →

Do not purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeVery Low / NoneEvidenceLowTrustMedium

Evidence Review

Taking vitamin D by mouth prevents and treats rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency.
People with kidney failure should use calcitriol.
Experts suggest giving vitamin D supplements or fortified foods to children and teens aged 1 to 18 even without testing blood vitamin D levels.
A large study found that pregnant women who took 28,000 IU vitamin D weekly from their second trimester until 6 months after birth reduced the chance of rickets in their babies by about 84%.
Taking lower doses or only during pregnancy did not reduce rickets risk.

Browse 3 studies

RCTMaternal Vitamin D Supplementation and Infantile Rickets: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial2024n=1,300

A secondary analysis of an RCT in 1,300 Bangladeshi pregnant women found maternal vitamin D up to 28,000 IU/week did not significantly reduce infantile rickets at 6–12 months.

Effect: No Benefit
Duration: 6–12 months
Dose: 4200 IU/day
Population: Women
Participants: 1,300

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GuideVitamin D for the Prevention of Disease: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline2024

The 2024 Endocrine Society guideline suggests empiric vitamin D for children, adults ≥75, pregnancy, and high-risk prediabetes, but not routine use in healthy younger adults.

Population: Pregnant women
Ages: 1–18

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8: Disorders of bone and mineral other than osteoporosis2004

A review chapter discussed rickets and osteomalacia treatment with calcium, vitamin D, or phosphate depending on the specific mineral deficiency.