Vitamin D deficiency rickets can be caused by a lack of vitamin D in the diet, a lack of exposure to the sun, or malabsorption syndromes in which there is an inability of the intestines to adequately absorb nutrients from foods.
Nursing mothers who have a diet deficient in vitamin D may get rickets themselves and pass this condition on to the newborn child.
In areas of the world where cultural habits limit exposure to sun, or the amount of sun in a day or season is limited, Vitamin D deficiency rickets tends to be more prevalent.