Researchers in Canada’s Arctic region studied why children there get a bone disease called rickets more often than kids in other parts of Canada. They looked at what pregnant women and babies ate, whether families had enough food, and if babies got vitamin D supplements. They found that when mothers didn’t have enough food during pregnancy, their children were much more likely to develop rickets. The study shows that helping families get better food and making sure babies get vitamin D could prevent this serious health problem in Arctic communities.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Why do children in Canada’s Arctic get weak bones (rickets) more often than other Canadian children, and what role do food, nutrition, and vitamin D play?
  • Who participated: Inuit children born between 2010-2013 from 18 communities in Nunavut (Canada’s Arctic region). Researchers reviewed medical records to learn about their mothers’ food security and the children’s vitamin D supplements.
  • Key finding: Children whose mothers didn’t have enough food during pregnancy were about 5 times more likely to develop rickets compared to children whose mothers always had enough food.
  • What it means for you: If you live in Arctic communities or know families there, making sure pregnant women and babies get enough food and vitamin D supplements could prevent serious bone problems. This is especially important in areas where fresh food is hard to find or expensive.

The Research Details

Researchers looked back at medical records of Inuit children born in Nunavut between 2010 and 2013. They collected information about what the mothers ate during pregnancy, whether families had enough food, and whether babies received daily vitamin D drops—a common supplement given to infants. They then compared children who developed rickets (weak bones) with those who didn’t, looking for patterns.

This type of study is called a retrospective review, which means scientists looked at information that was already collected and recorded, rather than following families forward in time. By examining medical charts from 18 different communities across Nunavut, the researchers got a broad picture of the problem across the Arctic region.

The researchers specifically looked for connections between food security (having enough nutritious food), vitamin D supplementation (getting vitamin D drops), and rickets diagnosis. They used statistical methods to figure out how much more likely rickets was when mothers experienced food insecurity.

This research approach is important because rickets is a serious but preventable disease. By looking at what actually happened in Arctic communities, researchers could identify the real-world factors that matter most. Understanding these connections helps health officials know where to focus help—whether on food programs, vitamin supplements, or both.

This study has several strengths: it included children from many communities (18 total), used actual medical records rather than relying on memory, and focused on a real health problem in a specific population. However, because it looked backward at existing records, researchers couldn’t control all the factors that might affect results. The study also couldn’t tell us exactly why food insecurity leads to rickets—just that they’re connected. Some information might be missing from old medical records.

What the Results Show

The study found that rickets occurred in about 1.6 out of every 100 children studied—which is much higher than in other parts of Canada. This confirms that Arctic communities face a real problem with this bone disease.

One of the biggest discoveries was about food insecurity. When mothers reported not having enough food during pregnancy, their children were about 5 times more likely to develop rickets. This is a strong connection that suggests food security during pregnancy is really important for bone health.

The research also showed that vitamin D supplements weren’t being given consistently. Less than half of babies were getting daily vitamin D drops at 2 months old, and even fewer continued getting them as they got older. Since vitamin D is essential for strong bones, this gap in supplementation likely contributed to rickets cases.

Most pregnant women reported eating traditional country foods (like fish, seal, and other local foods) regularly, but this wasn’t enough to prevent rickets when food insecurity was present. This suggests that having enough food overall matters as much as the type of food.

The study revealed that vitamin D supplementation practices were inconsistent across the region. Many families weren’t giving babies vitamin D drops regularly, even though this is a simple, inexpensive way to prevent rickets. The decline in supplement use as children got older suggests that families may have forgotten, run out of supplies, or didn’t understand how important it was to continue.

The fact that rickets occurred despite many mothers eating traditional country foods suggests that food insecurity—not just diet quality—is the main problem. When families don’t have reliable access to enough food, it affects nutrition even if some traditional foods are available.

This is one of the first detailed studies of rickets in Nunavut, so it fills an important gap in understanding Arctic health. Previous research showed that Northern Canada had more rickets cases than other regions, but nobody had really studied why. This research confirms that food insecurity and inconsistent vitamin D supplementation are major factors. The findings align with what we know about rickets globally—it’s connected to poverty, food insecurity, and lack of vitamin D.

The study looked backward at medical records, so some information might be incomplete or missing. Researchers couldn’t ask families detailed questions about their experiences. The study couldn’t prove that food insecurity directly causes rickets—only that they’re connected. Other factors not measured in the study (like sun exposure, which affects vitamin D production) might also play a role. Additionally, the study only included children born in one specific time period, so results might be different for children born in other years.

The Bottom Line

Healthcare providers in Arctic communities should: (1) Make sure all babies receive daily vitamin D supplements starting early and continuing through childhood—this is strongly supported by evidence; (2) Screen pregnant women and families for food insecurity and connect them with food assistance programs; (3) Educate families about the importance of consistent vitamin D supplementation. These recommendations have moderate to strong evidence support based on this and related research.

This research is most important for: families living in Arctic and Northern communities, healthcare providers in these regions, public health officials, and policymakers deciding on health programs. If you live in Nunavut or similar Arctic regions, this information directly affects your family’s health. If you live in southern Canada, this highlights health inequalities that deserve attention and resources.

Rickets develops gradually over months, so preventing it requires consistent action over time. Vitamin D supplementation should start in infancy and continue through childhood. Improvements in food security and nutrition would likely reduce rickets cases within 1-2 years if programs are well-implemented, though the full impact might take longer to see.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily vitamin D supplement use for infants and young children with a simple yes/no checklist. Users can set daily reminders and log whether the supplement was given. Monthly summaries can show consistency rates and help identify gaps.
  • Set up automatic reminders for daily vitamin D drops at the same time each day (like with breakfast). Create a simple checklist in the app to mark off each day the supplement is given. Share progress with family members or healthcare providers to stay accountable.
  • Track supplement adherence monthly and quarterly. For families experiencing food insecurity, use the app to log food availability and connect with local food assistance resources. Share reports with healthcare providers during check-ups to monitor for rickets risk factors.

This research describes health patterns in Arctic communities and should not be used for self-diagnosis. If you’re concerned about rickets or bone health in children, consult with a healthcare provider. Vitamin D supplementation should be discussed with a doctor, especially for infants and young children. This study identifies associations between food insecurity and rickets but doesn’t prove direct causation. Individual health decisions should be made in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals who know the child’s complete medical history.