12 Aug Diabetes: Marker for Poor Vitamin K Status Reflects Increased Cardiovascular Risk

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Gerdien Dalmeijer

Postdoc | Julius Centrum | Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht
Kamernummer STR. 6.119 | Huispostnummer STR. 6.131 |
Postbus 85500| 3508GA UTRECHT

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Answer: The main findings of our prospective study among type 2 diabetes patients show that high circulating desphospho-uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (dp-ucMGP) concentrations, reflecting a poor vitamin K status, are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, especially with peripheral arterial disease and heart failure. These results suggest that a poor vitamin K status is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk.
MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Answer: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the association of circulating MGP species with the risk of cardiovascular events; thus far only the association between dp-ucMGP and calcification has been investigated. Several studies but not all have shown that high dp-ucMGP concentrations are associated with increased calcification. We now extend these findings by showing the high circulating dp-ucMGP concentration is also associated with increased CVD risk, especially with peripheral arterial disease and heart failure.

MedicalResearch.com: MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Answer: Since studies have consistently shown that high dp-ucMGP concentrations are associated with a poor vitamin K status these results suggest that a poor vitamin K status is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. In order to describe clinical relevance, the added prognostic values of dp-ucMGP concentrations beyond traditional risk factors should be further investigated.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Answer: More observational studies are required to investigate whether circulating dp-ucMGP concentrations is associated differently with calcification in different layers of a blood vessel (intimal and medial) or with specific cardiovascular disease endpoints, like peripheral vascular diseases, to shed more light on the role of MGP in the etiology of cardiovascular disease.

Citation:

Matrix Gla Protein Species and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Dalmeijer GW, van der Schouw YT, Magdeleyns EJ, Vermeer C, Verschuren WM, Boer JM, Beulens JW.

Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Diabetes Care. 2013 Jul 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Last Updated on October 21, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD