Chronic weakness in the muscles, unlike fatigue, completely impairs your ability to begin even the smallest task, according to a 2005 article published in "American Family Physician." When the muscles weaken gradually over a period of time, the underlying cause may not be initially evident. Several medical conditions, such as diabetes, can lead to muscle weakness, but individuals who have a chronic illness may also experience weakness due to nutritional deficiencies. A 2003 study published in "Nutrition" explains that nutritional supplementation appears to reduce the incidence of mortality in patients with pulmonary disease and muscle weakness. Check with your physician before making significant changes to your diet or if you are experiencing unexplained muscle weakness.
Nutrition and Your Muscles
Your muscles rely on the nutrients from the foods you eat to work properly, repair damage and increase density to meet additional demands. Nutritional components, such as protein, water and carbohydrates, contribute to the structure of the muscles and other substances, such as vitamins and minerals, help maintain muscle tone and function. Most healthy people get plenty of protein in their diets but for the muscles to utilize it, you must also consume adequate amounts of carbohydrates. This balance of nutrients helps decrease the risk of muscle catabolism that causes your body to turn to muscle for fuel and can lead to general muscle weakness.
Deficiencies That Can Cause Chronic General Muscle Weakness
Several types of nutritional deficiencies can cause general muscle weakness. A deficiency of vitamin D, which is produced by your body with exposure to natural light or through enriched foods, can cause weakening of your muscles. In addition, deficiencies of the mineral magnesium, vitamin B-12 and the amino acid L-carnitine can lead to deteriorating muscle mass. Inadequate nutritional intake caused by illness, aging or a combination of both also increases the risk of developing a deficiency of one or several nutrients. Finally, malabsorption or impaired absorption of nutrients can lead to muscle weakness, even if you are consuming a nutritious diet.
Treatment for Muscle Weakness Caused by Nutritional Deficiencies
Treatment for chronic muscle weakness caused by impaired nutrition is determined by the nature of the underlying cause. Deficiencies caused by impaired nutrient absorption may be addressed through the administration of medication and supplemental nutrition intravenously or with meal replacement beverages. Muscle weakness caused by inadequate amounts of a specific nutrient, in contrast, may require supplementation of that nutrient. If weakness is caused by atrophy of the muscles that is characteristic of alcoholism, treating the condition is the primary way to improve nutritional intake and absorption.
Considerations
Muscle weakness is common but doesn't usually manifest in the same way in every person. A comprehensive picture of your symptoms, family health history and medications you are currently taking can help your physician determine which tests to administer for a concrete diagnosis. Nutritional deficiencies that can cause muscles to weaken may be easily reversed or may have a more complex medical cause that requires a more multifaceted treatment approach. Determining the cause of muscle weakness may require more than a single visit to your physician. Because your cardiac system is made primarily of muscle, symptoms such as weakness shouldn't be ignored.
References
- "American Family Physician"; Evaluation of the Patient with Muscle Weakness; Aaron Saguil, CPT (P), MC; 2005
- "Nutrition"; Efficacy of Nutritional Supplementation Therapy in Depleted Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; E.C. Creutzberg, et al.; 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Carnitine
- National Institutes of Health: Carnitine
- Georgetown University Dining Services: Protein - What Does It Do?
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