Vitamin K for Fatigue? What the Research Says

observational-study PMID: 37432282

Quick Summary: Research suggests that vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin K, may help with fatigue. This review looked at many studies and found that nutrient therapy often improved fatigue symptoms.

What The Research Found

This review looked at 60 different studies on how nutrients affect fatigue. The good news? Most of the studies (50 out of 60) showed that taking vitamins and minerals helped people feel less tired. While Vitamin K was mentioned as important for energy, the review didn't give specific details about how Vitamin K alone helped.

Study Details

Who was studied: The review looked at many studies, so it included people with different conditions that cause fatigue, like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

How long: The review looked at existing studies, so the length of the studies varied.

What they took: The review looked at different vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin K. The specific amounts of Vitamin K used in the studies weren't detailed in the summary.

What This Means For You

If you're feeling tired, this research suggests that making sure you get enough vitamins and minerals could help. Vitamin K is important for your body's energy processes. Talk to your doctor about getting your vitamin levels checked. They can help you figure out if you have any deficiencies and what supplements might be right for you.

Study Limitations

Different Studies: The studies used different methods, so it's hard to compare them directly.

Vitamin K Specifics: The review didn't focus on Vitamin K alone, so we don't know exactly how much it helps.

More Research Needed: This review looked at existing studies, so it can't prove that Vitamin K causes less fatigue.

Key Findings

This systematic review identified 60 studies evaluating nutrients for fatigue management, with 50 reporting significant benefits. While Vitamin K was highlighted as a nutrient involved in metabolic pathways linked to energy production, the summary did not specify quantitative outcomes for Vitamin K alone. The authors concluded that vitamins and minerals may play a role in alleviating fatigue, particularly in populations with deficiencies, but emphasized heterogeneity in study designs and the need for targeted trials.

Study Design

The study is a systematic literature review (not a primary observational trial) analyzing existing research on nutrient therapy for fatigue. It included 60 peer-reviewed articles from PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The review focused on nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, iron, and Vitamin K, though no specific sample demographics, dosages, or trial durations were detailed in the provided summary.

Dosage & Administration

The summary does not report specific dosages or administration protocols for Vitamin K, as the review aggregated findings across diverse nutrient studies. Most included trials tested oral supplementation, but formulations (e.g., K1 vs. K2) and dosages were not standardized.

Results & Efficacy

The review noted that 83% of included studies (50/60) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in fatigue symptoms with nutrient therapy. However, no effect sizes (e.g., Cohen’s d, odds ratios) or p-values for Vitamin K specifically were provided. Outcomes were broadly categorized as beneficial for physical and mental fatigue, with stronger evidence for deficiencies in B vitamins, iron, and magnesium.

Limitations

Heterogeneity: Studies varied widely in populations (e.g., fibromyalgia, cancer, MS), nutrient types, dosages, and outcome measures.
Lack of specificity: Vitamin K’s individual efficacy was not isolated in the summary, limiting actionable conclusions.
Observational bias: As a review, it cannot establish causality or optimal dosing.
Publication bias: Positive results may be overrepresented.
No participant-level data: The analysis relied on aggregated study results rather than individual patient metrics.

Clinical Relevance

This review suggests that nutrient supplementation, potentially including Vitamin K, may support fatigue management, especially in populations with documented deficiencies. However, the lack of specific data on Vitamin K means clinicians and supplement users should prioritize individualized testing (e.g., blood levels) and consult trials focused on Vitamin K alone before making recommendations. The findings underscore the importance of addressing nutritional status in chronic fatigue conditions but caution against overgeneralizing benefits without targeted evidence.

Note: The study’s summary does not provide detailed results for Vitamin K, so conclusions about its role are inferred from the broader nutrient analysis. Full-text access may be required for deeper insights.