We investigated the impact of vitamin E on treating frequent and severe nocturnal leg cramps. Patients received 100 I.U. of d, alpha-tocopheryl acetate three times daily before meals.
Remarkably, nearly all participants reported prompt relief from their symptoms. This group included 24 patients with leg cramps and a couple with "restless legs" syndrome.
Given that nocturnal leg cramps can be distressing and treatments are often unsatisfactory, these findings are particularly noteworthy.
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We explored the effects of vitamin E on leg cramps through a controlled double-blind study involving 40 dialysis patients.
After a two-month placebo washout, participants were split into two groups receiving either quinine or vitamin E.
Both treatments significantly reduced the number of leg cramps. With average monthly cramps dropping to around 3.3 for vitamin E and 3.6 for quinine, the findings indicate both options were effective.
However, since quinine has potential side effects, vitamin E is recommended as the first-line treatment for leg cramps in this population.
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We examined the effectiveness of various treatments for leg cramps, focusing particularly on vitamin E. While quinine has long been a go-to option, its use has significantly decreased due to safety concerns and mixed results in studies. Our review highlighted that although vitamin E might show potential benefits for leg cramps in patients on dialysis, the evidence is not robust across all populations. Therefore, we should consider other medications, like verapamil or gabapentin, before reverting to quinine.
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