The introduction is also posted on Spotify as a podcast by “Gerry at The Health Equation”

You can search Spotify for “Gerry at The Health Equation”

Or use the link below

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gerrygaj

Below is the specific link

Gerry Gajadharsingh writes:

“A recent article on Medscape focused on the positive effect vitamin K supplementation has on reducing the incidence of nocturnal leg cramps in older adult adults.

The randomized clinical trial showed that vitamin K2 supplementation significantly reduced the frequency, intensity, and duration of NLCs in an older population with good safety.

Approximately 50% to 60% of adults experience nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) in their lifetime. Nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) are spontaneous contractions of muscles. The gastrocnemius (calf muscle) is commonly involved, lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes. Patients might wake up with pain during attacks, making it difficult to sleep for a short period. It commonly occurs >60-year-old. Factors that may lead to leg cramps attacks include electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, tight muscles and metabolic disorders. The cramps can be relieved by passive stretching of the gastrocnemius and deep tissue massage. Quinine has been shown to be effective in treating NLCs but is not recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration due to severe side effects. Magnesium supplements are often used as a preventative treatment for NLCs however, their effectiveness is mixed (assuming minimal effect if the patient is not low in magnesium).

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, so your body stores it in fat tissue and the liver. It is best known for its role in helping blood clot, or coagulate, properly. The “K” comes from its German name, Koagulationsvitamin.

Vitamin K’s key role is to help heal injuries through blood clotting and strengthen bones. Researchers suggest that this vitamin has other benefits too, such as easing morning sickness and protecting cognitive functions, including thinking, memory, learning, and organizing skills. It may also help protect heart health.

Vitamin K is found in:

  • green leafy vegetables – such as broccoli and spinach
  • vegetable oils
  • cereal grains

Small amounts can also be found in meat and dairy foods.

Adults need approximately 1 microgram a day of vitamin K for each kilogram of their body weight.

For example, someone who weighs 65kg would need 65 micrograms a day of vitamin K, while a person who weighs 75kg would need 75 micrograms a day.

Note that people prescribed anticoagulants should talk to their prescriber before taking vitamin K, although there doesn’t appear to be any interactions between the modern anticoagulants such as Clopidogrel (Plavix), Apixaban (Eliquis), Ticagrelor (Brilinta) etc and vitamin K. Also, people prescribed anticoagulants should try to avoid any other nutritional’s in excess, that thin their blood such as excess fish oils, vitamin E and garlic.”

Medscape

Edited by Lora McGlade

TOPLINE:

Vitamin K supplementation significantly reduced the frequency, intensity, and duration of nocturnal leg cramps in older adults. No adverse events related to vitamin K were identified.

METHODOLOGY:

  • Researchers conducted a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial in China from September 2022 to December 2023.
  • A total of 199 participants aged ≥ 65 years with at least two documented episodes of nocturnal leg cramps during a 2-week screening period were included.
  • Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 180 μg of vitamin K (menaquinone 7) or a placebo daily for 8 weeks.
  • The primary outcome was the mean number of nocturnal leg cramps per week, while secondary outcomes were the duration and severity of muscle cramps.
  • The ethics committees of Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu and Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College approved the study, and all participants provided written informed consent.

TAKEAWAY:

  • Vitamin K group experienced a significant reduction in the mean weekly frequency of cramps (mean difference, 2.60 [SD, 0.81] to 0.96 [SD, 1.41]) compared with the placebo group, which maintained a mean weekly frequency of 3.63 (SD, 2.20) (P < .001).
  • The severity of nocturnal leg cramps decreased more in the vitamin K group (mean difference, −2.55 [SD, 2.12] points) than in the placebo group (mean difference, −1.24 [SD, 1.16] points).
  • The duration of nocturnal leg cramps also decreased more in the vitamin K group (mean difference, −0.90 [SD, 0.88] minutes) than in the placebo group (mean difference, −0.32 [SD, 0.78] minutes).
  • No adverse events related to vitamin K use were identified, indicating a good safety profile for the supplementation.

IN PRACTICE:

“Given the generally benign characteristics of NLCs, treatment modality must be both effective and safe, thus minimizing the risk of iatrogenic harm,” the authors of the study wrote.

Effect of vitamin K2 in the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps in the older population: Study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

Ying Li et al