Investigating the associations between uncarboxylated matrix gla protein as a proxy for vitamin K status and cardiovascular disease risk factors in a general adult population

Julie Aaberg Lauridsen*, Katja Biering Leth-Møller, Line Tang Møllehave, Line Lund Kårhus, Thomas Meinertz Dantoft, Klaus Fuglsang Kofoed, Allan Linneberg

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

Purpose
Vitamin K is an activator of vitamin K dependent proteins, one of which is the potent inhibitor of vascular calcification, matrix Gla protein (MGP). The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between an inverse proxy of functional vitamin K status, plasma dephospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), and cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRFs).

Methods
In a cross-sectional population-based health examination study of 4,092 individuals aged 24–77 years, the vitamin K status was assessed using plasma dp-ucMGP. All participants were linked to Danish National Prescription Register to obtain information on the use of vitamin K antagonists. The associations between log2 transformed dp-ucMGP values and CVDRFs were determined using regression models adjusted for sex, age, lifestyle factors, kidney function and waist circumference.

Results
Higher dp-ucMGP levels were associated with increased risk of central obesity (Odds Ratio (OR) 4.76, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) 3.57–6.34), diabetes (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.11–3.45), hyperlipidaemia (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.01–2.03), and impaired kidney function (OR 9.83, 95% CI 5.49–17.59) per doubling in dp-ucMGP. Dp-ucMGP was not independently associated with hypertension or arterial stiffness.

Conclusion
Higher dp-ucMGP levels were associated with central obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and impaired kidney function. Prospective studies and intervention studies examining the effects of improving vitamin K status are needed to clarify the potential role of vitamin K in relation to these CVDRFs.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer17
TidsskriftEuropean Journal of Nutrition
Vol/bind64
Udgave nummer1
Antal sider9
ISSN1436-6207
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2025

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
Open access funding provided by Copenhagen University. The DanFunD trial received funding from TrygFonden (grant numbers 7\u201311-0213 and 117548), the Lundbeck Foundation (grant number R155-2013\u201314070), and Helsefonden (grant number 22-B-0583). J. Lauridsen is funded by a grant from Independent Research Fund Denmark (grant number F-12815\u201303-14\u201301). Remaining authors are paid via their local institution and no other funding was otherwise received for this present study.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Citationsformater