Vitamin K significantly reduces leg/muscle cramps in humans
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As many of my readers know, muscle spasticity is one of the main symptoms of low thyroid function and is present in many people with chronic conditions, especially neurological (e.g. multiple sclerosis). A number of remedies have been tried clinically, but there has been no breakthrough, except with quinine. However, for some reason, medicine has decided that quinine is “dangerous” and its use is discouraged clinically while also being regulated in the food supply. Tonic water, which traditionally has 300mg-500mg quinine per quart/liter, has been regulated in most Western countries to contain no more than 100mg per quart/liter. Be that as it may, I think the focus should stay on the fact that impaired muscle relaxation is core symptom of energetic deficiency. As an extreme example, Ray cited experiments from the early 20th century demonstrating that even “rigor mortis” can be prevented with injections of ATP directly into the muscle tissue. The study below found that just 180mcg vitamin K2 (MK-7) daily, for 8 weeks strongly decreased frequency and severity of nocturnal leg/muscle cramps (NLC), while also producing no notable side effects. In addition, the study cites a previous one where vitamin K was able to reduce muscle cramps in hemodialysis patients. The study attributes these effects of vitamin K to its ability to inhibit calcium uptake into the cell from the extracellular medium. I would take this a step further and point out that vitamin K can even reverse already established soft-tissue calcification, which is the reverse process – i.e. pushing calcium out of the cell after it had already accumulated in pathological amounts. However, I think the main mechanism of vitamin K has to be related to its ability to act as a quinone/oxidizer and speed up the flow of electrons through the OXPHOS pathway. In corroboration, T3 administered orally or by injection also has potent muscle-relaxing effects and T3 can also decalcify tissues by raising ATP production (and thus magnesium retention) and accelerating calcium efflux by raising CO2 production (which draws calcium out of the cell as CO2 is leaving the cell) thus achieving higher magnesium/calcium ratio inside the cell. Vitamin K also has this effect and this is probably how it also manages to decalcify cells (an effect already demonstrated in several human trials).
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2825457
“…Half of the confirmed participants were randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of 180 μg vitamin K****2, while the others received a placebo for eight weeks. The placebo and vitamin K2 capsules were identical in appearance and packaging, and both the research staff and participants were blinded to the assignment of groups. Participants consumed one capsule per night and tracked NLC events, pain level, and duration. Research staff contacted them weekly to ensure adherence, collect reports, and enquire about any side effects. The main outcome was the average number of NLCs experienced each week during the eight weeks of the study, with the severity (scored between 1 and 10) and the duration in minutes of the cramps as secondary outcomes.”
“…However, the group receiving vitamin K2 reported that their mean cramp frequency reduced to 0.96 events per week over the eight weeks, while the placebo group’s average number of events increased to 3.63. Statistical tests established that this difference was significant. Those receiving the vitamin capsule also reported greater reductions in the severity of pain and duration of NLC events. No adverse events were reported by the participants related to the consumption of vitamin K2. Following previous findings that vitamin K2 relieves hemodialysis-related cramps, researchers explored whether they can alleviate discomfort from NLCs. They found that from the first week of the trial, vitamin K2 reduced the intensity, duration, and frequency of NLC events. The mechanism could be the lowering of calcium levels, leading to muscle relaxation. Encouragingly, the therapy appeared safe for older adults, with no observed adverse effects during the study. However, it is not recommended for people on certain blood thinners, as it may interfere with its effects.”
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@haidut it’s funny how most of the k2 studies youve posted recently are of mk7
