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Neofytou IE, Stamou A, Demopoulos A, Roumeliotis S, Zebekakis P, Liakopoulos V, Stamellou E, Dounousi E. Vitamin K for Vascular Calcification in Kidney Patients: Still Alive and Kicking, but Still a Lot to Learn. Nutrients 2024; 16:1798. [PMID: 38931153 PMCID: PMC11206649 DOI: 10.3390/nu16121798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) suffer disproportionately from a high burden of cardiovascular disease, which, despite recent scientific advances, remains partly understood. Vascular calcification (VC) is the result of an ongoing process of misplaced calcium in the inner and medial layers of the arteries, which has emerged as a critical contributor to cardiovascular events in CKD. Beyond its established role in blood clotting and bone health, vitamin K appears crucial in regulating VC via vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs). Among these, the matrix Gla protein (MGP) serves as both a potent inhibitor of VC and a valuable biomarker (in its inactive form) for reflecting circulating vitamin K levels. CKD patients, especially in advanced stages, often present with vitamin K deficiency due to dietary restrictions, medications, and impaired intestinal absorption in the uremic environment. Epidemiological studies confirm a strong association between vitamin K levels, inactive MGP, and increased CVD risk across CKD stages. Based on the promising results of pre-clinical data, an increasing number of clinical trials have investigated the potential benefits of vitamin K supplementation to prevent, delay, or even reverse VC, but the results have remained inconsistent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Eleftherios Neofytou
- 2nd Department of Nephrology, AHEPA Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.E.N.); (A.S.); (A.D.); (V.L.)
| | - Aikaterini Stamou
- 2nd Department of Nephrology, AHEPA Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.E.N.); (A.S.); (A.D.); (V.L.)
| | - Antonia Demopoulos
- 2nd Department of Nephrology, AHEPA Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.E.N.); (A.S.); (A.D.); (V.L.)
| | - Stefanos Roumeliotis
- 2nd Department of Nephrology, AHEPA Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.E.N.); (A.S.); (A.D.); (V.L.)
| | - Pantelis Zebekakis
- 1st Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Vassilios Liakopoulos
- 2nd Department of Nephrology, AHEPA Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (I.E.N.); (A.S.); (A.D.); (V.L.)
| | - Eleni Stamellou
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (E.S.); (E.D.)
- Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Evangelia Dounousi
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (E.S.); (E.D.)
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Turner ME, Adams MA, Holden RM. The Vitamin K Metabolome in Chronic Kidney Disease. Nutrients 2018; 10:E1076. [PMID: 30103541 PMCID: PMC6115832 DOI: 10.3390/nu10081076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to summarize the research to date on the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the vitamin K metabolome. Vitamin K-dependent proteins contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention via the prevention of ectopic mineralization. Sub-clinical vitamin K deficiency is common in CKD patients, and evidence suggests that it may contribute to the CVD burden in this population. Research from animal models suggests that CKD alters tissue measures of the two predominant forms of vitamin K: KI and MK-4. The expression and/or activity of enzymes that regulate the recycling of vitamin K and the carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent proteins also appear to be altered in CKD. Evidence suggests that statins, a common pharmaceutical prescribed to CKD patients to prevent cardiovascular events, may impact the metabolism of vitamin K and therefore contribute to its relative inefficiency at preventing CVD in this population as kidney disease progresses. Human research on the tissue vitamin K metabolome in CKD patients is lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy E Turner
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Science, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3V6, Canada.
| | - Michael A Adams
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Science, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3V6, Canada.
| | - Rachel M Holden
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Science, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3V6, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3V6, Canada.
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