Symptoms of restless leg syndrome, or RLS, include burning, "creepy-crawling" or tingling sensations in your legs while at rest and produces an overwhelming urge to move. The cause of these sensations isn't known, but research suggests a relationship between this syndrome and your central nervous system. Some people confuse nocturnal leg cramps with restless leg syndrome, but they are not the same. Calcium supplements may help relieve leg cramps, but not RLS.
Calcium, RLS and Nocturnal Leg Cramps
Calcium is important in bone health, but it also plays an important role in the electrical system in your body that makes your muscles contract. This is different from the nervous system function that researchers think is at the root of RLS. If your calcium levels are low or if your calcium-to-phosphorus levels are out of balance, which sometimes occurs among pregnant women or people taking diuretics, you will be more prone to muscle cramps, which often occur at night. Symptoms of muscle cramps are different from those of RLS. Cramps often come on suddenly and very painfully, often feeling like a knot in the muscle. They frequently occur in the calf muscle or feet. If you have nocturnal muscle cramps, talk to your doctor about taking calcium supplements.
Iron Supplements and RLS
Although calcium supplements won't alleviate your RLS, other supplements may help. Researchers believe iron isn't being processed effectively in the production of dopamine, a substance that helps your brain control your movements. This may occur because of low iron levels in your body, but it can also just mean you aren't using iron efficiently, so talk to your doctor before adding iron supplements to your diet.
Other Supplements for RLS
Folate, or folic acid, is a B vitamin that aids red blood cells to carry iron throughout the body. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause anemia and may contribute to RLS.
Magnesium is a trace mineral that has the opposite effect of calcium, in that it helps your muscles relax. If you have RLS at night, try taking 250 mg of magnesium citrate before going to bed, as this may reduce your symptoms.
Medications to Treat RLS
Some prescription medications are available to treat RLS, including drugs that affect the dopamine levels in your brain, which are commonly used to treat Parkinson's. Some people get relief with gabapentin, or Neurontin, which is used to treat epilepsy. Opioid medicines, such as oxycodone or codeine, may help relieve your symptoms but can be addictive. Muscle relaxants and sleep aids may help you sleep at night, but you need to use them judiciously, as they can also carry over and make you drowsy the following day.
References
- "Medifocus.com Inc"; Medifocus Guidebook On: Restless Legs Syndrome, p 15-16; 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Restless legs syndrome and related disorders; Feb 2009
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Causes Restless Legs Syndrome?
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Study Links Restless Legs Syndrome to Poor Iron Uptake in the Brain; Aug 2003
- Life Extension: Restless Leg Syndrome
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