Eye twitching usually affects the tissue of the upper and lower eyelids. Felt as an annoying pulsation, eye twitching is a very common affliction caused by fatigue, caffeine, stress, alcohol and sleep deprivation, but a vitamin or mineral deficiency can also cause eye twitching. Before taking any supplement, consult your physician.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays a role in many important cellular processes within the body. For muscle cells to function properly, magnesium is required for the passage of substances into and out of the cell. The passage of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium into and out of the muscle cell drives muscle contraction and relaxation. Magnesium is also required for energy production. All the body's cells contain small organelles called mitochondria that produce molecules of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which store energy. Energy is required for muscle contraction and relaxation; therefore, ATP and magnesium deficiencies can cause muscle twitching around the eye.
Calcium
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, calcium is the most important mineral in the body. Approximately 99 percent of total systemic calcium resides within the bones; 1 percent is found in the blood. Calcium concentration in the blood must be maintained within a certain range; the body leaches calcium from the bones if blood calcium levels are reduced and dietary intake is insufficient. A calcium deficiency can cause eye twitching, because calcium is involved in muscle contraction and nerve conduction. Without adequate calcium, the muscles and nerves do not function properly.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes are essential for proper muscle and nervous system function. Electrolytes are the negatively or positively charged chemical components, called ions, into which compounds dissolved in water ionize, or dissociate. Examples of electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate ions. Electrolytes govern muscular contraction and nervous impulses by flowing into and out of muscle and nerve cells, which creates a concentration gradient and electrical current. An imbalance of electrolytes, caused by dehydration or illness, can cause muscle twitching. To replace electrolytes, drink electrolyte beverages or dissolve electrolyte powders in water.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorous levels. It is required for calcium and phosphorous deposition into the bones, and without vitamin D, bone mineralization would not occur. This causes rickets or osteomalacia, two bone softening diseases. A vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle twitching because of its direct influence on calcium levels. Disturbance of calcium levels within the body causes disruptions in muscle and nervous system function. Vitamin D deficiency is a common disorder affecting 54 percent of African-American women and 42 percent of Caucasian women in America, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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