The muscles in your body contract and relax as they receive signals from the nerves attached to the muscle fiber cells. Magnesium is one mineral that plays a part in how efficiently your muscles send and receive these neural signals. It is possible that a magnesium deficiency will lead to muscle spasms. Ice packs, stretching and massage are traditional treatments for a muscle spasm, but speak to your health care provider before taking magnesium supplements or pain medication for muscle spasms.
Muscle Contractions
The cells that make up your muscle tissue require calcium ions to flow in and out of them for contraction and relaxation to take place. Calcium acts as a conductor of sorts for the electrical impulses that fire from your nerves to tell a contraction or muscle relaxation to take place. Magnesium's role in this process is that of a gatekeeper for your cells. Magnesium bonds with special receptor sites on the muscle cells to open the cell membrane and allow calcium to enter or exit from the cell as necessary. If the cell membrane remains locked and calcium cannot enter, your muscle will stay contracted in a muscle spasm.
OTC Medication
Some over the counter medications designed for muscle spasms and pain relief contain magnesium. One of the most common is magnesium salicylate, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. While the magnesium in this type of medication may be useful for relieving muscle spasms, the University of California points out that it can carry some serious side effects. Magnesium salicylate may cause heart attack, stroke and stomach bleeding, particularly if you take it over an extended time.
Supplements or Food
Obtaining magnesium from food is the best way to get more of the nutrient because it is a natural form your body will absorb well. Foods such as bran cereals, brown rice, almonds and spinach are all significant sources of magnesium. If your doctor recommends taking a magnesium supplement to treat your muscle spasms, it may be useful to also take vitamin B-6 and vitamin D along with it, as these vitamins can improve your body's ability to absorb the magnesium for quicker relief of muscle spasms.
Assessing Need
Only your doctor can tell you if your muscle spasms are the result of a magnesium deficiency. Certain individuals may be more prone to magnesium deficiency than others. If you take diuretics, some types of antibiotics or medications to treat cancer, you may experience a magnesium deficiency. Supplemental magnesium may also be beneficial for older individuals, those with uncontrolled diabetes, alcoholism or a malabsorptive condition such as Crohn's disease.
References
- Columbia University; Muscle Spasms; Pierre Rouzier, M.D.; 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Magnesium; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; June 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet -- Magnesium
- Linus Pauling Institute; Magnesium; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; April 2003
- New York University Langone Medical Center: Muscle Pain and Spasm
- University of California San Diego: Magnesium Salicylate
