Vitamin K Supplementation for Prevention of Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Are We There Yet?

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2022 Mar 10

PMID 35267901

Authors

Stefanos Roumeliotis

Anila Duni

Vasilios Vaios

Athanasios Kitsos

Vassilios Liakopoulos

Evangelia Dounousi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients are at high risk of presenting with arterial calcification or stiffness, which confers increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. In recent years, it has become evident that VC is an active process regulated by various molecules that may act as inhibitors of vessel mineralization. Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), one the most powerful naturally occurring inhibitors of arterial calcification, requires vitamin K as a co-factor in order to undergo post-translational γ-carboxylation and phosphrorylation and become biologically active. The inactive form of MGP (dephosphorylated, uncarboxylated dp-ucMGP) reflects vitamin K deficiency and has been repeatedly associated with surrogate markers of VC, stiffness, and cardiovascular outcomes in CKD populations. As CKD is a state of progressive vitamin K depletion and VC, research has focused on clinical trials aiming to investigate the possible beneficial effects of vitamin K in CKD and dialysis patients. In this study, we aim to review the current evidence regarding vitamin K supplementation in uremic patients.

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