Leg cramps are painful and can range in severity and cause, such as muscle injury, overuse and certain deficiencies. Too many vitamins can cause general muscle pain, but it's not restricted to just your legs. It's near impossible to overdose on vitamins from your diet, but it is completely possible if you take vitamin supplements.
Multiple Vitamin Overdose
A multiple vitamin overdose can cause muscle cramps, MedlinePlus says. A multiple vitamin overdose typically occurs when you take too much of a multivitamin. This can happen intentionally or accidentally if you've forgotten that you've already taken your daily multivitamin and take it a second time. While a multiple vitamin overdose can cause muscle cramps, the muscle cramps are not restricted to any one particular muscle group, such as your legs. You can experience muscle cramps in your legs, arms, abdomen or back.
Deficiencies
Typically, leg cramps are due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency. A vitamin B complex deficiency will cause you to suffer from muscle cramps, along with hair loss, numbness in your limbs and eczema. If your potassium or calcium levels are too low, you can experience leg cramps or muscle spasms in your legs. You can include more vitamin B, calcium and potassium in your diet to increase these levels if they are low. Your doctor might recommend taking a supplement in addition to including certain foods in your diet.
Other Causes
Too many and too few vitamins aren't the only factors that can cause leg cramps. Certain conditions such as dehydration, medications, nerve damage, varicose veins and arthritis can cause cramps. Pregnancy can also cause leg cramps, primarily in the third trimester. This is usually due to the increased weight gain and the difference in circulation.
Considerations
It's best to have a qualified health care provider determine why you're suffering from leg cramps, rather than guessing on your own. Treating the condition incorrectly could make matters worse. If you think you might have overdosed on vitamins, seek emergency help immediately. You might need to have your stomach pumped to remove the excess vitamins before they cause serious damage to your body.
