What disease is caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, resulting in soft and weak bones?

Rickets is a disease that directly results from a deficiency of vitamin D, leading to soft and weak bones, particularly in children. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium absorption, and without adequate vitamin D, bones cannot mineralize properly. This can lead to skeletal deformities and growth issues in children, as their bones are still developing. Rickets is characterized by signs such as bowed legs, thickened wrists and ankles, and overall weakness in bone structure.

Osteoporosis, while also related to bone health, is more common in older adults and is associated with the loss of bone density rather than a deficiency in vitamin D specifically. Scurvy, on the other hand, is caused by a deficiency in vitamin C and leads to issues with collagen formation, affecting connective tissues rather than bones. Fractures are not a disease but rather an injury that can occur due to weakened bones, which can result from conditions like rickets or osteoporosis, but they are not a direct result of vitamin D deficiency alone.