<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> A few more too-good-not-to-post suggestions for coping with leg cramps came in after I posted my original summary. I'd also like to add that I went right out & bought some OsteoPrime Forte and it did stop the leg cramps. I've been sleeping like a baby since! Ahhh! Here are the additional suggestions: --------------------------- I never had much of a problem with leg cramps until I developed an allergy to milk. After giving it up I started having leg cramps. Without the milk, I was obviously mineral deficient so I started taking a multi-mineral supplement. The cramps stopped the very first time I took it... BUT, it caused horrid constipation turning my stools to cement! OUCH! (Calcium is the main ingredient in concrete!) When I stopped taking it, the cramps returned. I was literally stuck between a rock & a hard spot -- painful hard, cramping muscles on one side and rock hard stools on the other! What could I do? I finally found that taking the supplement with juice on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals gave relief without causing such severe constipation. The trick is to avoid allowing the calcium & other minerals mix with food which causes hard stools. I empty two capsules into a cup of hot juice first thing in the morning 1 hour before breakfast, then again at bedtime and eat a little dab of butter or coconut oil. (I read that acid from the juice & the fat in the butter enhances absorption. It seems to work because I'm not cramping at night anymore.) --------------------------- I was recently diagnosed and my biggest complaint has been my leg cramps. My Doctor told me to get Juven. It is a powdered drink mix that you add to a glass of water or seltzer. It is taken to help build muscle back up in the body. I have found it helps. It is not cheap but it (3.60 for each packet 2x's daily) but it really does make a difference) .The co's website is www.juven.com. The Doctor explained to me that when the intestines get damaged, it no longer makes two amino acids which in turn prevent the body from making a subamino acid. When the body no longer finds them in the intestines, it goes elsewhere (our legs etc..) The packet gives back the body the amino acids and then eventually -prompts the body to once again, make them... ps I ordered mine at the pharmacy counter. They can get you a few packets to start off with at first so you can see if it helps. --------------------------- My experience is vitamin deficiency causes leg cramps. As long as I am taking vitamins I do not get leg cramps (liquid vitamins/minerals/enzymes work better, especially when malabsorption is an issue). In my case, it appears that the lack of vitamin E will bring on major leg cramps. We are currently using Seasilver which works very well, but the company is having some issues with labelling and unsubstantiated claims so we will have to see if the product remains on the market. If it doesn't, I am sure it will be replaced. Another factor to consider, especially with malabsorption, is that only 10% of a vitamin in pill form is absorbed. Liquid vitamin/mineral/enzyme supplements are needed for adequate absorption. -------------------------- MD's used to treat leg cramps with a (then) expensive product called "Quinnam" which was a combination of quinine and aminophyllin (amininophyllin being a form of caffiene found in tea}. It worked quite well for years. Then (and I don't know the story) somebody found that the cure was probably due to the glass of water which was taken to wash down the big pill. Since then quinnam is rarely used. Water alone will do the trick in about three minutes. Also, be aware that the most immediate remedy is to stretch the offending muscle so that blood can get into it. When done properly, that works immediately, although the cramp tends to recur when the muscle is allowed to unstretch unless the water is taken also. As I have gotten older, I have had plenty of opportunities to test this remedy on myself. I am not celiac. I expect the celiac connection to cramps is due to malabsorption of the minerals sodium, potassium and maybe (as mentioned on this list a few day ago)selenium, especially during hot weather and after heavy excercise. Jack Maines North Creek NY ----------------------- About let cramps. I've had them for over 50 years. Several years ago I found my solution to those dreadful things, they'd pull both my heels up so tightly that I was afraid that the bones would snap, they were very painful. Now I have a pair of those toe to knee woolly knee socks to keep my legs warm all night long. It works like a charm, NO LEG CRAMPS. Any system that will keep the lower legs warm and comfy works fine. An extra pillow over the legs, etc., will help. I've solved the problem without all the pills and diet stuff. John B. ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! *Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*