Is there any association between osteoporotic vertebral fracture and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit-1 polymorphism in Turkish society? A pilot study

Vitamin K levels in Fibromyalgia Syndrome Patients and Their Associations with Pain, Disease Activity, Quality of Life and Inflammatory Cytokines

BACKGROUND

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain condition that requires multidisciplinary treatment. Vitamin K is an antioxidant that plays a role in many reactions in the body, and its effectiveness in FMS has not been studied before.

AIM

We aimed to evaluate vitamin K levels in FMS patients and their relationship with pain, disease activity, quality of life, and inflammatory cytokines.

METHOD

Eighty-eight female patients with FMS and 87 controls were included in the study. Vitamin K and inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-8, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alfa) serum levels were measured in both groups. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) scales were used.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences in vitamin K levels between the two groups, and no relationships were found between these levels and pain, FIQ, SF-36, and inflammatory cytokines (p > .05). While IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were found to be high in the FMS group compared with the control group (p < .05), no difference in IL-8 levels was noted (p > .05). In the FMS group, positive correlations were found between IL-6 and FIQ, and between TNF-alpha and physical role difficulty(p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the results of this study do not provide any evidence of an association between FMS and vitamin K levels. However, high IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels suggest that low-intensity inflammation may accompany FMS and have a negative impact on physical activity. Future studies are needed to determine the relationship between vitamin K and FMS.

Genetic Variation in VKORC1 and Risk for Osteoporosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) plays an important role in bone development and bone metabolism by influencing the vitamin K cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between VKORC1 gene polymorphisms and bone mineral density and the risk of osteoporosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We determined VKORC1 gene polymorphisms (rs9923231 and rs9934488) by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction and Sanger sequencing method in 606 postmenopausal women including 288 osteoporosis patients and 318 healthy controls.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in the rs9934488 polymorphisms between the osteoporosis group and controls. Subgroup analyses also indicated no positive result. VKORC1 rs9923231 polymorphism increased the risk of osteoporosis in the homozygous and allelic models. A significant correlation was observed in a subgroup of the elderly (age ≥55 years). Additionally, the genotypes of the rs9923231 polymorphism were significantly associated with low body mass index, and T-score, but not with age, serum calcium, or phosphorus.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, VKORC1 rs9923231 polymorphism is a genetic contributor to osteoporosis risk and it should be confirmed in large well-designed studies.