Can a lack of calcium in diet cause bone pain?
It can certainly be painful to wake up with a leg muscle tied up in a knot! Leg cramps and pain can indicate a nutritional deficiency. Although scientific research is not conclusive, there is some evidence that a calcium deficiency may contribute to leg cramps. This does make sense, however, because calcium is very important for proper muscle functioning. Dietary calcium must be made soluble in the stomach and then pass to the small intestine, where it combines with a calcium binding molecule so it can be absorbed (a process called chelation). CALCIUM competes with zinc, manganese, magnesium, copper and iron for absorption in the intestine, and a high intake of one can reduce absorption of the others. Adults excrete 400-600mg of calcium daily Signs of severe calcium deficiency include abnormal heartbeat, muscle pains and cramps, numbness, stiffness and tingling of the hands and feet. Children can suffer from rickets, with symptoms of excessive sweating of the head, slowness in sitting,
