Claudication is the medical term used to describe weakness and pain in the legs related to circulation problems. This pain often resolves when you rest, because it occurs when the leg muscles do not get enough oxygen. Peripheral vascular disease is a common cause of claudication, resulting from lack of oxygen when plaque buildup reduces blood supply to the lower extremities. Calcium is an important factor in the development of plaque; a deficiency can also lead to muscle cramping during exercise.
Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. Ninety-nine percent of the mineral is stored in the bones and teeth, but it is the other 1 percent that has significant impact on your overall health. Your body uses calcium for vascular contraction and the regulation of blood pressure, muscle function, nerve transmissions, critical metabolic functions and hormonal secretion. Calcium also helps reduce your risk of plaque formation and cardiovascular disease in the body by decreasing the amount of fat you absorb in the intestines. Calcium also helps to lower cholesterol levels in your blood, which then reduces the amount of plaque in your arteries.
Calcium Deficiency
A low blood level of calcium usually means there is another underlying medical condition, such as an abnormal parathyroid function, because the skeleton is a large reserve of calcium to maintain adequate levels, according to Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. You may experience a deficiency in calcium from chronic kidney failure, vitamin D deficiency, alcoholism or low magnesium levels. You may also suffer from deficiencies if you have a lactose intolerance, are vegetarian, are postmenopausal or are amenorrheic for other reasons, such as low body fat in elite athletes. Calcium deficiency leads to increased lipid absorption, but will also result in muscle spasms and cramping in the legs, states MedlinePlus. Although the causative action is not the same as claudication, the experience of muscle spasms and cramping will be similar.
Food Sources and Supplementation
Linus Pauling Institute says the average intake of calcium in the United States is well below the Recommended Daily Allowance by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine for every age group. Although milk and dairy products can provide up to 75 percent of the calcium required, you can also absorb calcium from some vegetables and grains. However, while these vegetables in the kale family, such as broccoli, kale and bok choy, are high in calcium, they also contain other chemicals that inhibit the absorption in the intestines. While foods are the best source of calcium, supplementation will increase your intake and help you meet the requirements for your age and gender. No multivitamin or mineral will contain 100 percent, so consider the vitamin as supplemental to your dietary intake, and not the sole source of calcium.
Warnings
Excess calcium can result in kidney failure, calcification in the soft tissue and vessels, too much calcium in the urine and kidney stones, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. You may also experience constipation, reduced levels of iron and zinc, and possibly an increased risk of prostate cancer. Taking calcium with other medications may make the medicine less effective, or increase the absorption of calcium. Supplements from natural sources such as oyster shell, bone meal or dolomite could be contaminated with lead. Before adding calcium to your supplements, consult your physician to ensure there is no interaction with other medical conditions or medications, and that that you will benefit from the extra calcium for your muscle cramping or claudication.
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