Vitamin Deficiency And Muscle Twitches

Vitamins are organic compounds needed in small quantities for vital metabolic processes including muscular contractions. Deficiencies in certain vitamins can cause muscle twitches or spasms and muscular weakness. Most vitamins, including those that play a role in muscle twitches, cannot be manufactured in the body and must be supplied through diet.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin necessary for the absorption of calcium in the intestines. It functions to maintain adequate amounts of calcium and phosphate levels in the blood to ensure normal mineralization of the bone. Vitamin D is necessary for bone growth and remodeling by the bone-building cells, called osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Vitamin D Deficiencies

Vitamin D deficiencies cause the bones to become weak and brittle. In children, a vitamin D deficiency results in rickets, a disease characterized by malformation of bones in the limbs and spinal column. More importantly, a deficiency in vitamin D causes a deficiency in calcium.

The Calcium Connection

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, with 99 percent of the body's supply stored in the bones and teeth. In addition to the many vital functions calcium has in the body, it is required for muscle contraction and nerve conduction. Calcium is stored in the muscle and causes muscles to contract. In nerve impulses, calcium plays a crucial role in opening the sodium and potassium gates to allow the impulse to take place.

Bringing It Together

Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. Calcium is necessary for muscle contraction and nerve conduction. A deficiency in vitamin D causes a deficiency in calcium. Inadequate levels of calcium leads to impaired neurological and muscular function. This can result in muscle twitches or spasms, weak bones and pain within the muscle and bones.

RDAs and Food Sources

The Recommended Dietary Allowance, RDA, varies with age, gender and health status. The RDA for vitamin D in healthy adults over the age of 19 is 15 mcg/day and 20 mcg/day for adults over the age of 70. The RDA for calcium in healthy adults age 19 to 50 is 1,000 mg/day. Males age 50 to 70 need 1,000 mg/day and 1,200 mg/day over the age of 70. Healthy females over the age of 50 require 1,200 mg/day. Food sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, fiver liver oils, beef liver, eggs and cheese. Food sources of calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese, Chinese cabbage, kale and broccoli.