TLDR Hair loss can be a key sign of a rare type of rickets when vitamin D treatment doesn't work and advanced tests aren't available.
The document reports on a case of Vitamin D-dependent rickets Type II, an uncommon autosomal recessive disorder, and highlights the association of alopecia with the disease. The case involves a child diagnosed with this condition, and the report emphasizes that alopecia, either of the scalp or body, can be a significant indicator for this syndrome, especially when rickets is resistant to treatment and there is a lack of facilities to measure 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2 D) and parathyroid hormone levels. The document suggests that in the absence of advanced diagnostic capabilities, the presence of alopecia may serve as an important diagnostic clue for this rare form of rickets.
31 citations
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September 2003 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Vitamin D-dependent rickets Type II causes bone problems and hair loss, and doesn't improve with Vitamin D treatment.
57 citations
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August 1997 in “Pediatrics International” VDDR I and II are genetic disorders affecting vitamin D use, causing rickets, with VDDR I treatable by vitamin D supplements and VDDR II needing high doses and calcium.
47 citations
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October 1989 in “European Journal of Pediatrics” Two siblings stayed rickets-free for 14 years after stopping treatment.
134 citations
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December 2018 in “Dermatology and Therapy” Some vitamins and minerals like vitamin D and iron can help with certain types of hair loss, but more research is needed for others.
107 citations
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March 2014 in “BoneKEy Reports” Mutations in the vitamin D receptor cause hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets, leading to poor bone health and requiring high calcium doses for treatment.
97 citations
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September 2006 in “Pharmaceutical Research” No treatment fully prevents hair loss from chemotherapy yet.
63 citations
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May 2017 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” People with alopecia areata often have lower levels of vitamin D, zinc, and folate, but more research is needed to understand if supplements can help treat it.
151 citations
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June 2010 in “Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America” Two rare genetic diseases cause severe rickets in children due to defects in vitamin D metabolism.
