Vitamin deficiencies manifest themselves in a manner of disease and the symptoms of these diseases could also be muscle spasms but in most cases, a spasm itself is not caused by a vitamin deficiency but a mineral deficiency.
The essential minerals that the body requires are potassium, sodium, magnesium. Calcium, chlorine, zinc, phosphorous, iron, manganese, copper, iodine, selenium, and some others like cobalt - but in trace quantities. These exist in various forms and as ions. Calcium, magnesium and potassium deficiencies are generally responsible for most spasms occurring in the human body. In simple terms, it can be understood as follows – potassium is required to send a muscle into its resting state, calcium causes a muscle to contract, and magnesium is required to ensure that the balance of potassium and calcium are correct in the cells. Apart from this magnesium also plays a role in neurotransmission. To understand how these three elements work it is necessary to understand nerve impulses. Nerve impulses are basically electrochemical signals that pass along the nerve cells. This movement of electricity is what causes all movement and life itself. Since humans have internal batteries, the method of generating electricity is through an ion exchange, and this is where potassium and sodium are involved. In all human cells, there exists an enzyme called NAKA pump or the sodium potassium pump. The sodium-pump moves sodium and potassium ions in and out and this is what causes a nerve impulse to be generated. The more the potassium, a resting state occurs and the cell is repolarized. The more sodium, an action occurs and the cell is depolarized.
An imbalance in these three minerals is what causes nerves to misfire and, in a manner of speaking, short circuit to cause a spasm. In a muscle spasm, you would have noticed that muscle is in a continuously pulled involuntarily and does not come to rest.
This is because of the action of sodium ions to force an action but the lesser amount of potassium not allowing the resting to occur. Some spasms can be so severe that the muscles can pull and has even been known to cause bone fractures. In the muscles that regulate breathing, this can be a fatal situation causing asphyxiation. The best sources of these essential minerals come from bananas, tomatoes, milk and other dairy products, and leafy green vegetables. You should ensure that you include at least one moderate serving comprising of two or three of these foods.