For muscle cramp or discomfort
A MUSCLE cramp always feels like a surprise. Have you been woken up from restful sleep with a painful leg cramp or Charley Horse? Can you relate to the feeling of creepy crawlies in your leg (restless leg syndrome)? Have you been struck down on the sports field due to a sudden painful cramp?
Muscle cramps or the sudden contraction or tightening of the muscles is a terrifying and excruciating experience.
While muscle cramps can be caused by many conditions, ranging simply from dehydration to vigorous exercise, studies show that one of the causes of cramps is deficiency of magnesium.
Magnesium is one of the most fascinating micronutrients out there. Think of magnesium as the relaxation mineral. It is responsible for the regulation and proper functioning of over 300 enzyme processes in our body, including muscle and nerve function.
In fact, clinical studies show that magnesium is able to help for all types of muscle-related pain – from headaches to digestive distress to menstrual cramps.
Given that cramping is, by definition a series of painful muscle contractions, it is clinically proven that magnesium deficiency causes cramps, spasms (especially in the legs or feet), tightness, aches, weakness and fatigue.
Studies have shown that maintaining a proper level of magnesium is important for muscle relaxation to prevent and relieve cramping.
According to research on average magnesium intake, it is believed that most people are not getting enough magnesium for good health. These could be caused by:
• Processed foods in the modern industrialised world are low in magnesium.
• Sources of magnesium, such as dark-green leafy vegetables, have become severely depleted of nutrients over the last century, resulting in the decrease of magnesium in our daily food intake.
Moreover, there are several risk factors that might increase the risk of magnesium deficiency that leads to muscle cramp, such as:
• Diabetics or individuals with other blood sugar abnormalities, such as insulin resistance.
• Consume a diet high in pastries and other junk foods – which are basically devoid of magnesium.
• Take medications that increase urinary magnesium excretion – such as thiazide diuretics for blood pressure (of particular importance in this population because magnesium helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels*).
• On long-term antibiotic use, because antibiotics can combine with magnesium and form insoluble compounds the body can’t absorb.
• Alcoholics because of poor nutritional status, chronic GI problems and increased urinary loss.
• Elderly individuals because of poor absorption, chronic disease, and long-term medication use.
Magnesium is a vital mineral that is involved in all functions of the muscular system.
It is important to maintain a sufficient level of magnesium in the body to prevent negative health impact associated with magnesium deficiency such as muscle cramp, high blood pressure and insomnia.
Currently, the recommended intake for magnesium is 400-420mg for men and 310-320mg for women. Always choose the right magnesium that has high absorption and bioavailability such as amino acid chelated magnesium for good results.
This health information is brought to you by the panel pharmacists of Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd.
■ Should you need any further clarification, contact Cambert at 03-5638 3660 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), or email enquiry@ cambert.com.my