Certain rare inherited disorders can cause normal kidneys to lose phosphorus, which causes osteomalacia.
Chronic use of laxatives may result in fluid and electrolyte imbalances, steatorrhea, osteomalacia, diarrhea, cathartic colon, and liver disease.
Vitamin D levels may be insufficient and bring about a softening of bones (osteomalacia), which produces pain and bony deformities, such as flattening or bending.
However, adults can better handle a vitamin D deficiency than children, so their symptoms of osteomalacia may not seem as worrisome, acute or pressing.
In adults, severe vitamin D deficiency results in osteomalacia, which confers both weakness of bones and of the muscles.