What are the potential consequences of vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to significant health issues, particularly affecting bone health. Rickets is a condition that occurs in children characterized by the softening and weakening of bones, primarily due to inadequate mineralization, often linked to insufficient vitamin D. This deficiency prevents the proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which are vital for healthy bone development.

In adults, the consequence of vitamin D deficiency manifests as osteomalacia, a condition that also leads to weakened bones. Osteomalacia involves the demineralization of bones, which results from a lack of vitamin D that is necessary for calcium uptake. Both rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults highlight the crucial role vitamin D plays in maintaining bone integrity and mineral balance in the body.

The other options mentioned relate to different nutrients or health conditions not specifically tied to vitamin D deficiency. For instance, scurvy is associated with a deficiency in vitamin C, goiter is linked to iodine deficiency, and anemia in the elderly could arise from various nutritional deficiencies, but not directly from a lack of vitamin D. Thus, the connection of choice B to the consequences of vitamin D deficiency is clearly established through these specific conditions.