Comparative study evaluating the effect of the administration of vitamin K1 versus placebo on vascular calcification in Haemodialysis patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular calcification is a risk factor and contributor to morbidity and mortality in End stage kidney disease patients. Cardiovascular calcification is most likely due to an imbalance of promoters (e.g. Calcium and phosphate) and inhibitors (e.g. fetuin-A and matrix Gla protein) (Schlieper et al., 2015). Vitamin K functions as an enzyme cofactor for the carboxylation of vitamin K–dependent proteins involved in many physiological processes, including vascular calcification. Although various vitamin K–dependent proteins have been identified in vascular tissue and have also been implicated in arterial calcification and CVD, the most studied is matrix gla protein (MGP) (Tesfamariam 2019). We aimed to study the effect of oral vitamin k1 on serum carboxylated Matrix gla protein in patients on maintenance hemodialysis and to study its effect as an important marker of vascular calcification. This Placebo Controlled clinical trial was conducted for 3 months on 80 adult ESRD patients on regular Hemodialysis randomly allocated into 2 groups of either vitamin K1 versus oral placebo tablet administration for 3 months. Patients in both groups were age and sex matched, study group included 18 (45%) males and 22 (55%) females with mean age ± SD 47.350 ± 14.420 years, while the placebo group included 16 (40%) males and 24 (60%) with mean age ± SD 49.500 ± 14.509 years, with no significant difference between both groups as regard demographic data, access of hemodialysis, and duration of Hemodialysis.