Rickets, nutritional disorder characterized by skeletal deformities. Rickets is caused by a decreased concentration of the mineral hydroxyapatite in bones and cartilage due to low levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Vitamin D is essential for the maintenance of normal calcium and phosphorus levels. Classic rickets, a deficiency disease of children characterized by improper development or hardening of bones, is due to lack of sufficient vitamin D in the diet, or to insufficient ultraviolet radiation from direct sunlight, a lack that prevents conversion of the element 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin to vitamin D. The type of skeletal deformities depends largely on the child's age when the vitamin-D deficiency occurs. A child who has not yet learned to walk develops vertebral curvatures; a walking child develops leg curvatures.
2007-03-21 05:54:45
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answer #1
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answered by ahmos 4
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Phosphorus is essential for the metabolism of protein, calcium, and glucose. The body uses phosphorus in its combined forms, obtained from milk, cheese, meat, egg yolk, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. If your are deficient in phosphorus, you can experience weight loss, anemia, and abnormal growth. Phosphorus is essential to the body for the production of ATP (a chemical containing phosphate which stores energy in muscles), and for the process of glycolysis (process of reactions by which glucose and other sugars are broken down releasing energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP). Phosphorus is vital for the above reactions. Phosphorus is also needed for bones, teeth, kidney function, and other physiologic purposes.
2007-03-21 05:46:51
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answer #2
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answered by Warrior 1
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Simple answer: Bones, Teeth, Blood, Muscles, Nerves.
Bones are mainly calcium phosphate, It is found in complex organic compounds in the blood, muscles, and nerves, and in calcium phosphate, the principal material in bones and teeth. Phosphorus
Phosphates are used in fertilisers and detergents and in metal coatings to prevent corrosion. However, excess phosphates in rivers and lakes cause an over-growth of slimy green algae, which robs the water of its life-supporting oxygen
2007-03-21 05:40:12
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answer #3
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answered by Silly Girl 5
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For one thing, it is important to forming ATP, adenine triphosphate, which is the molecule that gives the body energy in its most useable form.
2007-03-21 05:38:35
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answer #4
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answered by wayfaroutthere 7
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