Cramps are involuntary muscle contractions, often in your legs. These unpleasant spasms are known for being unexpected and painful, and can be related to a wide range of different health issues, including a lack of certain nutrients. But what vitamin deficiency causes muscle cramps, exactly?
For context, cramping is common. February 2017 research inFamily Practicefound that more than 30 percent of older adults experience leg cramps. People assigned female at birth (AFAB) may be especially prone to cramping, per a June 2017 paper inPLOS One. And between 30 and 45 percent of pregnant people will experience sleep-related leg cramps, according to an April 2015 report inMaternal and Child Nutrition.
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But it can still be difficult to tellwhat triggers cramps. Here are some common causes, per theMayo Clinic:
- Exercise, especially in hot weather
- Dehydration
- Pregnancy
- Underlying conditions like diabetes or nerve, liver or thyroid disorders
- Undergoing kidney dialysis
- Side effect of medication
- Aging, especially for people AFAB, per a November 2016 review inAge and Ageing
Mineral andvitamin deficienciescan also play a role in these painful muscle contractions, according to an August 2015 review in the神经学期刊. Here's what vitamin deficiencies cause cramps, how todeal with muscle spasmsand the best vitamins and supplements forleg cramps.
Tip
Muscle cramps typically resolve on their own. But if cramps cause you extreme pain, happen frequently without an obvious cause or occur with other symptoms like muscle weakness, swelling or a change in skin color, visit your doctor, per the Mayo Clinic.
What Deficiencies Cause Leg or Muscle Cramps?
Knowing what vitamin deficiencies cause leg, foot or other muscle cramps may help you get to the root of your pain — here are some common culprits:
1. Vitamin B Deficiency
Avitamin B deficiencymay contribute to muscle issues. For instance, not getting enough vitamin B1 can lead to cramping in your lower legs, according to October 2014 research inNeurologic Clinics.
Muscle cramps are likewise a symptom ofvitamin B12 deficiency, per June 2019 research inMayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes.
2. Vitamin D Deficiency
Though the evidence is inconclusive, it's possible that avitamin D deficiencycan lead to muscle pain, according to June 2018 research inBone Reports.
A 2015 article in theInternational Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Researchshowed that more than 60 percent of city-dwelling people had a vitamin D deficiency and that these people often had leg cramps. This finding suggests that treating the underlying deficiency might relieve the cramps, though more research is needed to establish this link.
3.Electrolyte Imbalance
Electrolyteimbalances can also be the cause of your muscle cramps, per the Mayo Clinic. This can occur when you lose too much fluid from excessive sweating,not drinking enough water, vomiting or diarrhea, according to theU.S. National Library of Medicine.
Alack of sodiumis often to blame for electrolyte-induced cramping: Not having enough salt in your system can cause problems like muscle weakness, spasms and cramps, per theMayo Clinic.
Magnesiumcan have a similar effect — not getting enough of this electrolyte can temporarily impair your muscle function and lead to spasms, weakness or stiffness, according to theCleveland Clinic. The same goes for other electrolytes likepotassiumandcalcium,这两个会导致肌肉痉挛如果你r levels dip too low, per the Mayo Clinic.
Tip
Most electrolyte imbalances are temporary and can be resolved by hydrating and eating nutrient-rich foods. But if you notice symptoms like nausea, vomiting, confusion, seizures, or you lose consciousness, get medical care immediately, as you may be experiencing a severe sodium deficiency, per the Mayo Clinic.
How to Treat Muscle Cramps
Now that you know what vitamin deficiencies cause muscle cramps, here are some measures you can take to prevent or quell the pain.
1. Eat Vitamin-Rich Foods
Because vitamin deficiencies can cause muscle cramps, supplementing your diet with nutritious foods may help, per the Mayo Clinic.
For instance, load up on thesesources of B vitaminsfor muscle cramp and spasm prevention:
- Salmon
- Spinach
- Lentils
- Chicken
- Oranges
- Avocados
Munching onvitamin D-rich foodsmay also help you steer clear of muscle pain, including:
- Fish like trout, salmon and whitefish
- Mushrooms
- Soy products like fortified tofu and soy milk
- Milk
You can also avoid electrolyte imbalances (and the muscle cramps they can bring) by eatingfoods containing electrolytes, such as:
- Fish with bones, like sardines
- Dairy products like milk and cheese
- Olives
- Greens like spinach, turnip greens, collard greens and kale
- Potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Fruit like bananas, oranges, avocados and melons
- Legumes like lentils, peas and beans
- Nuts
2. Stay Hydrated
If you're exercising, sweating, sick or otherwise losing a lot of bodily fluids, be sure to drink enough water to keep your electrolyte levels — especially sodium — in check, per the Mayo Clinic.Replenishing your electrolytes将有助于your muscle cells work their best so you can avoid uncomfortable cramping.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
Use this equation to determinehow much water you should drink every day:
Body weight (in pounds) ÷ 2 = minimum ounces of water you should drink per day
3.拉伸
拉伸ing before and after physical activity may help prevent exercise-related muscle cramping, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If you regularly experience muscle cramps at night (or any other time), stretching or light activity before bed may help you avoid overnight aches, per the Mayo Clinic.
4. Massage the Area
Getting a massage in the affected area may help ease leg cramps, according to a January 2021StatPearlsarticle. This may be especially true for nighttime cramps, which are especially common in people age 60 and older.
Indeed, a September 2018 paper inBMC Musculoskeletal Disordersshowed that foam rolling can relieve aches in your calves. Interestingly, you don't have to directly roll the irritated spot — just near it.
5. Try Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger points are tender spots of muscle that may underlie leg cramps, per an October 2016 review inSeminars in Neurology.
A January 2015 report in theJournal of the American Board of Family Medicinetested this hypothesis in people with weekly cramps and found that injecting lidocaine into calf trigger points decreased cramping and pain and even improved sleep.
What Is the Best Vitamin for Leg Cramps?
If your leg cramps are due to a nutrient deficiency and the above prevention and treatment methods aren't cutting it, here are some of the best vitamins and supplements for muscle cramps.
However, it's important to remember that theFDAdoes not require supplements to be proven safe or effective before they're sold, so there's no guarantee that any supplement you take is safe, contains the ingredients it says it does or produces the effects it claims.
As a result, talk with your doctor if you have frequent spasms to determine the best vitamins that help with muscle cramps.
Tip
Though you may have heard that vitamin E can help treat leg cramps at night, there's not much recent research to support this claim, per a May 2015 review inBMJ Clinical Evidence.
1. Vitamin B1
Taking B vitamins for cramps may help ease your pain, according to theNeurologic Clinicsresearch. For instance, trying a vitamin B1 supplement can help prevent cramping if a deficiency is to blame.
However, visit your doctor before starting this supplement, as it's best to confirm you have a deficiency beforehand.
Products We Recommend
- Nature Made Vitamin B1($7.11 for 100 tablets, Amazon.com)
- NOW Supplements Vitamin B1($7.44 for 100 tablets, Amazon.com)
- Nutricost Vitamin B1($14.95 for 120 capsules, Amazon.com)
2. Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12is another great supplement for leg cramps — especially if you follow a vegan diet, as most sources of B12 come from animal products, per theNeurologic Clinicsresearch.
It's also best to talk to your doctor to determine the best supplement and dosage for you.
Products We Recommend
- Nature Made Vitamin B12($14.89 for 90 softgels, Amazon.com)
- Natrol Vitamin B12 Fast Dissolve Tablets($8.24 for 100 tablets, Amazon.com)
- Solimo Vitamin B12 Gummies($7.76 for 100 gummies, Amazon.com)
3.Vitamin D
If you're worried you're not getting enough vitamin D, talk to your doctor about whether a supplement may help you avoid associated issues like muscle pain, per theMayo Clinic.
For example, people AFAB over the age of 51 may benefit from a supplement to help offset bone deterioration during and after menopause, per the2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
That said, it's always ideal to get the bulk of your nutrients from whole foods, so aim to eat more natural sources of the vitamin before turning tovitamin D supplements.
Products We Recommend
- Nature Made Vitamin D3($10.47 for 300 softgels, Amazon.com)
- Nature Made D3 Adult Gummies($10.49 for 90 gummies, Amazon.com)
- Naturewise Vitamin D3($13.99 for 360 softgels, Naturewise.com)
4. Magnesium
Taking magnesium for leg cramps at night or during exercise may help prevent or reduce your pain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Typically, replenishing electrolytes throughproper hydrationand nutrition is enough, but sometimes it may be helpful to take a supplement if you have a full-blown deficiency.
However, a May 2017 study inJAMA Internal Medicinefailed to find any difference between the essential mineral and a placebo among a broad range of adults. And theMaternal and Child Nutritionresearch showed that magnesium might be effective only in specific populations, like pregnant people.
Accordingly, talk to your doctor to determine if you should take a supplement and if so, what magnesium is best for your leg cramps.
Products We Recommend
- Swanson Chelated Magnesium($9.99 for 180 capsules, Amazon.com)
- Floradix Magnesium Vegetarian Liquid Supplement for Muscle and Bone Support($21.56, Amazon.com)
- Vitacost Magnesium($5.61 for 180 capsules, Vitacost.com)
5. Potassium
Similarly, getting enough potassium from good hydration, nutrition and potentially asupplementcan help keep your electrolyte balance stable, per the Mayo Clinic.
Products We Recommend
- NOW Supplements Potassium Chloride Powder($6.89, Amazon.com)
- NOW Supplements Potassium Gluconate Tablets($10.84 for 250 tablets, Amazon.com)
- Rite Aid Potassium and Magnesium Aspartate Capsules($9.99 for 100 capsules, Amazon.com)
6. Calcium
The same goes for calcium, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is especially true for people AFAB over the age of 51, who need more calcium to combat age-related bone loss and may benefit from asupplement, per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Products We Recommend
- Nature Made Calcium + Vitamin D3($11.49 for 220 tablets, Amazon.com)
- Kirkland Signature Calcium + Vitamin D3($10.99 for 500 tablets, Costco.com)
- Kirkland Adult Gummies Calcium + Vitamin D3($17.99 for 240 gummies, Costco.com)
- Age and Ageing: "A review of nocturnal leg cramps in older people"
- 神经学期刊: "Neurogenic muscle cramps"
- Mayo Clinic: "Muscle Cramp"
- Bone Reports: "Vitamin D and muscle"
- Neurologic Clinics: "Nutritional Neuropathies"
- Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes: "The Many Faces of Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Deficiency"
- Cleveland Clinic: "Feeling Fatigued? Could It Be Magnesium Deficiency? (And If So, What to Do About It!)"
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Fluid and Electrolyte Balance"
- Mayo Clinic: "Hyponatremia"
- StatPearls: "Muscle Cramps"
- Mayo Clinic: "What are the risks of vitamin D deficiency?"
- FDA: “FDA 101: Dietary Supplements”
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans"
- BMJ Clinical Evidence: "Leg cramps"
- Family Practice: "Criteria in diagnosing nocturnal leg cramps: a systematic review"
- PLOS One: "Nocturnal leg cramps: Prevalence and associations with demographics, sleep disturbance symptoms, medical conditions, and cardiometabolic risk factors"
- Maternal and Child Nutrition: "Oral magnesium for relief in pregnancy-induced leg cramps: a randomised controlled trial"
- JAMA Internal Medicine: "Effect of Magnesium Oxide Supplementation on Nocturnal Leg Cramps"
- International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research: "High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Associated Risk Factors among Employed Women in a Sunny Industrial City"
- BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders: "Pain pressure threshold of a muscle tender spot increases following local and non-local rolling massage"
- Seminars in Neurology: "Myofascial Trigger Point Pain Syndromes"
- Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine: "The Effects of Myofascial Trigger Point Injections on Nocturnal Calf Cramps"
Is this an emergency?If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see theNational Library of Medicine’s listof signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.