What supplement can you take for leg cramps

You are enjoying your run. Suddenly, you stop in your tracks because you feel a tight, sharp pain sensation in your left calf muscle. You quickly grab hold your leg. You take deep breaths, limp to the safest place for recovery and take a break. You continue to viciously massage the hard-lump tissue in your calf muscle until the lump disappears and the pain subsides.

You abandon the run and decide to walk the rest of the way. What caused your leg cramps? How can proper nutrition prevent leg cramps from happening on your next run? What are the best vitamins and supplements for leg cramps?

Read on to learn the best way to prevent and treat leg muscle cramps. Muscle spasms or leg cramps are caused by the sudden an involuntary contraction of one of more your muscles, resulting in a painful sensation that will often cause you to completely stop your run.

Leg cramps are caused by a number of issues: overuse of the muscles, working out too hard, taking extremely long walks, runs or hikes, improperly stretching or not stretching at all, inactivity, and electrolyte imbalances. The painful feeling from muscle spasms can last from seconds to several minutes, and sometimes days. Generally, leg cramps are harmless. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, some may be related to underlying medical conditions like inadequate blood supply, nerve compression, and mineral depletion having a diet low in Potassium, Calcium or Magnesium.

You may be at greater risk of experiencing muscle cramps if you are an older adult. Hypercalcemia is defined as a serum calcium level greater than Eligibility Criteria. This is defined as the woman reporting no periods in the last 12 consecutive months or longer. Contacts and Locations. Information from the National Library of Medicine To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials. More Information. Leg cramps vitamin D deficiency. National Library of Medicine U. National Institutes of Health U. Department of Health and Human Services. The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators.

Leg Cramps, Nocturnal. Drug: vitamin d Drug: placebo. Not Applicable. Study Type :. Interventional Clinical Trial. Actual Enrollment :. Study Start Date :. Actual Primary Completion Date :. Actual Study Completion Date :. Drug: vitamin d After a two-week wash-in, subjects will take a vitamin D capsule 50, units once daily for 10 days, followed by a once weekly vitamin D 50, units maintenance dose for 7 weeks.

Other Name: ergocalciferol. Drug: placebo After a two-week wash-in, subjects will take a placebo capsule once daily for 10 days, followed by a once weekly maintenance dose for 7 weeks.

Other Name: lactose. Nobi Nutrition Magnesium Complex Premium is available for purchase online. The company recommend taking 2 tablets two times a day.

The company formulates this product with slow releasing magnesium chloride to help the body better absorb this mineral. The company recommend taking 2 tablets once or twice a day. Each serving contains mg of calcium, mg of magnesium, and mg of chloride. Some foods that are high in magnesium include :. Learn more about foods rich in magnesium here. Potassium helps maintain normal cell function in the body, particularly in the nerves and muscles.

It is relatively common for people to have a potassium deficiency. However, if a person has a severe deficiency , they may experience symptoms such as leg cramps. This product contains potassium capsules. This product contains gelatin, making it unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans or people following certain religious or cultural diets. The company recommend that people take 2 capsules daily, always with food. Each serving contains 1, mg potassium as potassium bicarbonate.

Life Enhancement Potassium Basics is available for purchase online. Nutricost Potassium Citrate is available to buy online. The company recommend that people take 1 tablet per day with a meal and some water. Each serving contains 90 mg of potassium gluconate. Nature Made Potassium Gluconate is available to buy online. Some foods high in potassium include :.

Learn more about foods high in potassium. Vitamin supplements may help prevent deficiencies that cause muscle cramps. However, other treatments may be more effective or offer more immediate relief for leg cramps:. There are some home remedies that people can try to reduce muscle cramps.

These include :. There is little evidence that suggests medication for leg cramps is effective. However, doctors may prescribe the following medications:. Some people may have had quinine in the past.

However, according to a article , the Food and Drug Administration FDA have recommended that doctors avoid prescribing this medication for leg cramps. Learn more treatments for leg cramps here. People should see a doctor if they continuously experience leg cramps after exercise or the legs cramps are adversely impacting their ability to partake in daily activities.

There is some evidence that certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies may contribute towards people experiencing leg cramps. Some supplements and foods may reduce vitamin or mineral deficiency, and people can use home remedies to reduce symptoms of leg cramps.

Leg muscle cramps are common, but they can be uncomfortable and very painful. In this article, learn about how to treat and prevent them. Many athletes look for safe and efficient ways to boost their performance. In this article, we look at six vitamins and supplements that may help. Vitamin B is essential for blood health. People with vitamin B deficiency may have a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, nerve problems, and….