Almost all your day-to-day activities require the use of your muscles to support your spine and posture, control your breathing and allow for movement. Myopathy, a health issue characterized by damaged or weakened muscles, can inhibit proper muscle function and, as a result, prove debilitating. While myopathy can develop for a number of reasons, some forms of myopathy may arise due to nutritional deficiencies in specific nutrients.
Magnesium
One type of nutritional myopathy can develop from magnesium deficiency. This relatively rare condition can develop due to alcoholism, malnutrition, aging or kidney disorders that cause magnesium leaching from the body. Your muscle cells rely on magnesium for proper muscle contraction, so magnesium deficiency can lead to myopathy and muscle weakness. If you have a disorder that increases your risk of magnesium deficiency, consult a physician to learn how to prevent magnesium deficiency.
Vitamin E
Another type of nutritional myopathy can come from a deficiency in vitamin E, an essential nutrient. The deficiency often develops as a result of an underlying disorder that inhibits vitamin E absorption in your digestive tract, such as cystic fibrosis. As a result, individuals with CF, for example, may require additional treatment to prevent vitamin E deficiency. The Linus Pauling Institute indicates that severe vitamin E deficiency causes neurological symptoms and damage to tissue within the eye in addition to myopathy and muscle weakness.
Calcium
Your muscles also rely on calcium for proper functioning, and a calcium deficiency might also lead to nutritional myopathy. Calcium interacts with two proteins in your muscle cells -- actin and myosin -- that work together to cause muscle fiber contraction. Without adequate calcium, your muscle cannot properly control fiber contractions, leading to a loss of proper muscle functioning. In addition, calcium aids in glycogen breakdown in your muscles, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, so a lack of calcium can reduce the energy available to your muscle fibers. Consume tofu and dairy products as a source of calcium to prevent nutritional myopathy.
Considerations
While consuming adequate nutrients each day helps support muscle functioning and prevent myopathy, not all forms of muscle weakness are related to nutrition. In some cases, serious diseases can damage your muscle tissue or nervous system, leading to symptoms of myopathy. If you suffer from muscle weakness or other muscle-related symptoms, you must see a physician to determine the underlying cause of your disorder. If you do suffer from nutritional myopathy, your doctor can also help you determine an appropriate dosage to correct your nutrient deficiency and treat the myopathy.
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