What Causes Osteomalacia?

Kidney And Liver Conditions

Osteomalacia has been linked to several kidney and liver conditions, as the kidney and liver play a major role in the activation of vitamin D. Conditions commonly associated with osteomalacia are chronic liver disease and chronic renal failure. Chronic renal failure, otherwise known as chronic kidney disease (CKD), defines the loss of kidney function over the course of time. In CKD, the calcium and phosphorus levels are thrown off balance. The kidneys not functioning properly can lead to an excessive amount of phosphorus in the blood.

High levels of phosphorus cause the body to release more parathyroid hormone (PTH). This hormone is produced by the parathyroid glands housed in the neck area. It is responsible for the regulation of calcium levels in the blood. An increase in PTH can stimulate the extraction of calcium from the bones, causing them to weaken. In chronic liver disease, the liver is damaged and fails to perform its necessary functions. The disease is known to affect the body's levels of vitamin D and estrogen.