Vitamin K₂ reduces dreaded nighttime leg cramps in clinical trial

Medical Xpress / JAMA Internal Medicine ^ | Oct. 31, 2024 | Justin Jackson / Jing Tan et al

[ConservativeMind]

They used vitamin K2 MK-7, 180 μg, and it reduced cramping by 2/3 over eight weeks of use.

[ConservativeMind]

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[P.O.E.]

We were told to keep tracing the sign of the cross over it and it would go away. Worked every time.

[Entropy Squared]

.

[AuntB]

I suffer from them relentlessly. I also take K2. I guess they could be worse
That’s hard to imagine.

[Williams]

Leg cramps are awful and the ones in the thighs the worst.
However, I have found applying theraworks (which I believe is essentially a topical epsom salt) will stop or prevent leg cramps.

[Williams]

Highly recommend Theraworks. Plus I take magnesium and potassium supplements.
Also, applying a pretty heavy duty vibrating massager to the muscle will stop them, pressing hard into the muscle. Without the massager, you can press your knuckles into it.
Unfortunately, the pressure needed on the muscle is painful, and nothing prevents the muscles from being very sore for days after the cramping. However, a hot epsom salt bath for 15-20 minutes can help.

[pepsionice]

You might want to try a magnesium supplement...say every other day (not over doing it). Daily intact for a male is 420 mg...for a gal, 320.

Into my 40s...I suffered a lot from it. After I started the magnesium, it went down to once a year.

[metmom]

It’s also supposed to be very good for getting calcium back into the bones.

[Getready]

But all patients experienced blood clots since vitamin. K is needed to make clotting factors? Hope they checked for that..

[madison10]

Not for me. I take Vitamin K and sometimes the leg cramps are so bad it is like my feet will curl up

[WeaslesRippedMyFlesh]

“You might want to try a magnesium supplement...say every other day (not over doing it). Daily intact for a male is 420 mg...for a gal, 320.”

Magnesium Glycinate 200mg at CVS or other local phamacy.

[steve86]

I wouldn’t worry too much about “overdoing it”, and it depends a lot on what form of Mg you take because the absorption varies considerably. I take two 500 milligram magnesium oxide each day (poorly absorbed but keeps things moving) and one 400 milligram magnesium glycinate (absorbed much better). And K2 also and still occasionally get calf cramps, which seems to have more to do with my legs getting cold at night than anything else.

[laplata]

You should go to Vit. K2 and hopefully it will do better.
I hope it works for you.

[Bullish]

I get them, my Doc called them restless leg syndrome (RLS). Tried lots of things, best thing seems to be exercising a few times a week on my bicycle. Everything else doesn't seem to help.

[steve86]

RLS is a lot different from cramps. Gabapentin and dopamine agonists often used to treat.

[peggybac]

I take K2 and Magnesium and still get them. I’ve found drinking an ounce or 2 of pickle juice nightly helps A LOT. If I go any time without drinking the juice and get one, I immediately down a few ounces of juice and it goes away.

[Bullish]

Notice the ‘syndrome’ in the RLS. Anytime something's called a syndrome seems to mean they don't know what's causing it exactly and could be alot of things. As my Doc tells me.

My cramps can be extremely intense mostly during the night when asleep but they have also come on in the middle of the day too at times. They seem to have subsided quite a bit with regular exercise.

[FrdmLvr]

I use a topical magnesium oil spray, Cymbiotika, before I go to bed. I spray it on my legs, my neck and shoulders and stomach. I take magnesium and vitamin K2 as well; I upped my intake over the summer and added the magnesium oil and I really think it has helped.

[steve86]

I had RLS at one point caused by a medication. Annoying as hell but unrelated to cramps.