In understanding the cause of bony deformities observed in children, we must consider the role of vitamins in bone health.
Vitamin D: Essential for calcium and phosphate absorption from the gut, critical for healthy bone formation. Deficiency can lead to rickets, characterized by bone deformities in children due to inadequate mineralization.
Evaluating each option:
- Vitamin A: Important for bone growth and remodeling, but deficiency primarily affects vision and immune function rather than causing bone deformities.
- Vitamin K: Involved in bone metabolism, but deficiency is more related to bleeding disorders.
- Vitamin C: Necessary for collagen synthesis, its deficiency (scurvy) leads to brittle bones, but not typical deformities seen in rickets.
The most likely cause of the bony deformities shown in the radiograph is due to a deficiency in Vitamin D.