Disclaimer: before you attempt something foolish, please note that vitamin K3 (menadione) is considered toxic for human consumption and lacks an established safe dosage for therapeutic use.

This study explores the use of menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB), a pro-oxidant and vitamin K precursor, in slowing prostate cancer progression and treating X-linked myotubular myopathy. MSB acts on the VPS34 enzyme, depleting the lipid PI(3)P, which disrupts cancer cell survival through a novel oxidative cell death pathway termed “triaptosis.” In a prostate cancer mouse model, MSB effectively halted tumor growth. Additionally, in a mouse model of myotubular myopathy, MSB improved survival and muscle function by balancing PI(3)P levels.

“When mice with prostate cancer are given menadione, it messes with the cancer’s survival processes. Trotman’s team has discovered that menadione kills prostate cancer cells by depleting a lipid called PI(3)P, which works like an ID tag. Without it, the cells stop recycling incoming materials and eventually explode.”

For more details, see the Science article.