by If you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night with a sudden pain in your thigh, calf or leg, you’ll know how terrifying the experience is – and, unfortunately, the frequency of the disturbance increases. this night for ages.
About 40% of people over the age of 50 have night cramps – known by many names, such as sleep or nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) – in which the muscles of the lower limbs spasm painfully and take up some a moment to go back. However, only a minority of patients report them to their doctor.
Now, researchers from the Third People’s Hospital in China and several medical colleges have found a promising inhibitor for these waking nightmares, and a clinical trial of 199 people found that vitamin K2 significantly reduced episodes, pain and the length of the cramp.
“This study was based on our previous research, which showed the effectiveness of vitamin K2 in relieving muscle cramps associated with hemodialysis,” the researchers noted. “To our knowledge, this is the first study that has explored the use of vitamin K2 specifically for the treatment of NLCs.”
Until now, lifestyle interventions – exercise, hydration – have been an imperfect way to reduce the chance of identifying frequent NLCs, which become more frequent as we age and are often independent of any disease or basic conditions. Although magnesium supplements have shown some effectiveness in relieving cramping in pregnant women, it has not helped NLCs in general.
Overall, although a less active lifestyle and poor diet and lifestyle play a role in the condition, it is poorly understood and undertreated.
“Quinine has been shown to be effective in treating NLCs but is not recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration due to serious side effects,” the researchers noted in a preliminary study protocol paper last year. “Magnesium supplements are often used as a preventive treatment for NLCs; however, their effectiveness is controversial.”
Controversial, as trials in older adults experienced with NLCs have not achieved significant clinical results.
In this eight-week study, 199 participants aged 65 years or older with at least two NLCs in two weeks were recruited for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test whether vitamin K2 could be a more effective intervention better.
Splitting the group in two, 103 participants were randomly assigned to take a daily dose of 180 μg of K2, while the other 96 received the placebo. Overall, 54% were women and the average age was 72.
So why this particular isoform of vitamin K? K2, a group of menaquinones synthesized by bacteria in the gut, is available in dairy products such as full-fat cheeses, fermented foods such as sauerkraut and other animal products (except K1, phylloquinone, which you find in leafy greens). and certain plant oils). Vitamin K, overall, is important in blood clotting, as well as general blood and bone health.
Although K2 has shown potential to help reduce the risk and morbidity of certain cancers, it is largely understudied and its broad health benefits are not well understood.
During the clinical trial – patients were assessed weekly for the occurrence and severity of NLCs, and both cohorts had a similar baseline number of events, with 2.60 in the K2 group and 2.71 in the control. At the end of the eight-week experiment, the weekly scores were analyzed to see if there was a continued benefit from the K2 treatment.
What the team found was that participants who took K2 showed a statistically significant reduction in NLCs, with an average of 1.41. Meanwhile, the control group had a mean of 3.63 with a significantly greater range of events than the K2 group.
“The difference in cramp frequency at the intervention phase between the vitamin K2 and placebo groups was statistically significant,” the researchers noted. “The difference between groups became significant from the first week of the intervention.”
The K2 group also had a greater reduction in pain and episode duration than the placebo cohort, and those who took the supplement had no negative side effects.
“Our results showed that daily vitamin K2 supplementation alleviates muscle cramps in elderly people affected by NLCs, showing reduced frequency, shortened duration, and weak intensity,” the researchers said.
They also noted trial limitations, such as not assessing overall quality of life and sleep, and many participants experienced mild NLCs. Future studies should take these into account to confirm the efficacy of vitamin K2 as a treatment for the condition.
Although K2 supplements, when taken within the dosage range, are considered to have a low risk of side effects, some people have reported mild initial digestive problems such as bloating or gas, or headaches.
The team cautions that anyone should consult a medical professional before taking new supplements, as K2 may present problems for people taking other medications, including anticonvulsant treatments.
The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
Source: The Third People’s Hospital in Chengdu via Scimex
