Welcome to the Nutrition Diva podcast, where we take a closer look at nutrition research,

trends, and claims so that you can feel more confident about your food and nutrition choices.

I'm your host, Monica Reinagle, and today we're taking a look at a new study on vitamin K2 as a potential preventive

therapy for leg cramps. These leg cramps are a lot more common than you might realize.

It's estimated that about half of us will experience them at some point during our lives,

but as we get older, they often get more common for reasons that I talked about

in my episode on magnesium as a treatment for leg cramps. Other things that can make leg cramps

more likely are dehydration, prolonged sitting or standing, as well as certain medications,

including some that are commonly prescribed for high blood

pressure or high cholesterol. And magnesium is probably the most commonly suggested remedy for this

very vexing condition, along with strategies like stretching before bed. And while that does seem to work for some, it's not universally effective, which is why

there is bound to be some excitement about this new research.

Before we get into the details of this latest study, let me just take a second to clarify

how nocturnal leg cramps differ from restless leg syndrome.

This is another very frustrating condition that can seriously ruin a good night's sleep.

Nocturnal leg cramps are a sudden involuntary contraction of the muscles causing intense pain, and they usually

happen in the muscles of the calf or the foot. And while they don't last very long,

they can be enough to jolt you out of sleep and will often leave you feeling sore for a day

or two afterward. Restless leg syndrome, on the other hand, is a neurological condition that creates

an irresistible urge to move your legs. You might experience it as an uncomfortable tingling or a crawling

sensation that can only be relieved by moving your legs. Unlike leg cramps, which are sudden and painful, restless

leg syndrome is more of an ongoing, nagging discomfort that tends to get worse when you're resting,

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