Do vitamins and minerals cause muscle pain? They do if you don’t have enough!
You have a smart body and it wants to be well. In order for that to happen, you must provide everything it needs. Some of its needs are small–like vitamins and minerals are–but so, so necessary for your muscles (and brain) to function well.
Many vitamins and minerals interact–they work together. If you are lacking enough magnesium, for instance, that will prevent you from absorbing enough calcium. A magnesium deficiency will cause a calcium deficiency.
According to Travell & Simons MD’s, you need iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium for normal muscle function. The B-complex vitamins are all important, as is Vitamin D3. You can get more vitamins and minerals by selecting healthier foods or by supplementing with a good multi-vitamin and mineral tablet.
Smoking, eating a diet with a lot of heavily processed and artificial foods, heavy alcohol use, sweets and table salt (sodium chloride) can all lead to deficiencies. If you’re not changing your eating or social habits, consider taking a really potent supplement to help meet your bodies’ nutritional needs. Also, sea salt (probably especially Himalayan sea salt) has minerals that regular table salt lacks.
As always, I remind you that I’m not a doctor, not a dietitian, not a nutritionist. I’m The Pain Relief Coach and I’m sharing information today to help you get rid of your muscle pain.
Thanks for your advice. I have RA and every time I take a multi vitamin my shoulder and back muscles really cramp up and hurt worse than without the vitamin. I didn’t know if it’s because it’s craving these vitamins or if I’m allergic to one of the vitamins. Other’s have told me I just need to push through this and that I will feel better in a few weeks.
Hi Denine,
One of the best people I know of for vitamin & mineral supplement information is Bette Dowdell at http://TooPoopedToParticipate.com RA is a disorder that would probably benefit a LOT from supplements, which could boost your immune system. (I have to say “probably” and “could” because I’m not a nutritionist or dietitian or doctor.) If your vitamins are not from a health food store, they may be too weak to cause such a reaction anyway. HOWEVER…it could be a reaction to something IN the multi–a binder or coloring agent, one of those non-vitamin, non-mineral components. Perhaps a different brand? If you get on Bette’s e-mail list, she sends out lots of great info including recommendations and tells you what to look for and what to look out for. I hope this helps and thank you for writing.
Kathryn Merrow
The Pain Relief Coach