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Medical diagnostic methods applied to a medieval female with vitamin D deficiency from the North of Spain

Alonso-Llamazares, Carmen, Gomez, Carlos, Garcia-Manrique, Pablo, Pardinas, Antonio F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6845-7590 and Lopez, Belen 2018. Medical diagnostic methods applied to a medieval female with vitamin D deficiency from the North of Spain. International Journal of Paleopathology 22 , pp. 109-120. 10.1016/j.ijpp.2018.07.007

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Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is a pathological condition that affects bone metabolism by preventing proper mineralization, which eventually leads to bone deformities and other pathological conditions such as osteoporosis, increased bone fragility and fractures. The aim of this study is to present a case of vitamin D deficiency, but also to note how the application of several complementary techniques is a fundamental step in the establishing an accurate diagnosis. These techniques range from classical palaeopathological analysis to modern clinical practice. After the macroscopic examination of a medieval female skeleton from Palencia (Spain), where various bone deformations were observed, a differential diagnosis could not establish a definitive cause. Radiological, bone density, and histological studies were carried out, finally allowing to confirm a vitamin D deficiency suffered in both childhood and adulthood. This is a clear example, with practical applications, of the importance of interdisciplinarity to reveal insights about the life history and physical health of ancient individuals.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Medicine
MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics (CNGG)
Publisher: Elsevier
ISSN: 1879-9817
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 31 July 2018
Date of Acceptance: 27 July 2018
Last Modified: 06 Nov 2023 20:13
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/113752

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