Efficacy of high dose phylloquinone in correcting vitamin K deficiency in cystic fibrosis.
BACKGROUND
Subclinical deficiencies of vitamin K are universally present in unsupplemented cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The dose required to prevent deficiencies cannot be estimated from the existing literature. The aim of this study is determine if a supplemental dose of 1 mg/day or 5 mg/day vitamin K1 per day would normalize vitamin K status in a population of children with cystic fibrosis.


METHODS
Fourteen pancreatic insufficient CF children, between the ages of 8 to 18 years old, were randomized to receive either 1 mg/day or 5 mg/day vitamin K1 per day, for one month. Fasting blood tests were done at baseline and after one month of the intervention. The degree of undercarboxylation of osteocalcin (%Glu-OC), and serum vitamin K1, were evaluated by descriptive statistics and nonparametric Wilcoxon matched-pair test and Mann-Whitney U test.


RESULTS
Of the 50% of subjects who were below the optimal serum vitamin K1 at baseline, all rose into the normal range with supplementation. Supplementation also significantly reduced the overall %Glu-OC from a median of 46.8 to 29.1% (p<0.0003).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that both 1 mg and 5 mg of vitamin K1, given over a one-month period in pancreatic insufficient pediatric cystic fibrosis patients improve vitamin K status.
Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Center, 2300 Tupper Avenue, Montreal, Canada H3H-1P3. donna.drury@muhc.mcgill.ca
Donna
D
Drury
Vijay Laxmi
VL
Grey
Guylaine
G
Ferland
Caren
C
Gundberg
Larry C
LC
Lands
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D010837:Vitamin K 1 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014815:Vitamins; D010837:Vitamin K 1