title: Vitamin K Dependent Protection of Renal Function in Multi-ethnic Population Studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Following activation by vitamin K (VK), matrix Gla protein (MGP) inhibits arterial calcification, but its role in preserving renal function remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1166 white Flemish (mean age, 38.2 years) and 714 South Africans (49.2% black; 40.6 years), we correlated estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR [CKD-EPI formula]) and stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD [KDOQI stages 2-3]) with inactive desphospho-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), using multivariable linear and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among Flemish and white and black Africans, between-group differences in eGFR (90, 100 and 122 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), dp-ucMGP (3.7, 6.5 and 3.2 μg/L), and CKD prevalence (53.5, 28.7 and 10.5%) were significant, but associations of eGFR with dp-ucMGP did not differ among ethnicities (P ≥ 0.075). For a doubling of dp-ucMGP, eGFR decreased by 1.5 (P = 0.023), 1.0 (P = 0.56), 2.8 (P = 0.0012) and 2.1 (P < 0.0001) mL/min/1.73 m(2) in Flemish, white Africans, black Africans and all participants combined; the odds ratios for moving up one CKD stage were 1.17 (P = 0.033), 1.03 (P = 0.87), 1.29 (P = 0.12) and 1.17 (P = 0.011), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the general population, eGFR decreases and CKD risk increases with higher dp-ucMGP, a marker of VK deficiency. These findings highlight the possibility that VK supplementation might promote renal health.
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Fang-Fei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: R & D Group VitaK, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nadja E A
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Drummen
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; MRC Research Unit on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Aletta E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lutgarde
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thijs
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thibaut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wen-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Zhen-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuznetsova
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verhamme
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Organ Systems, KU Leuven Department of Development and Regeneration, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Allegaert
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; MRC Research Unit on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Rudolph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Evenepoel
authors.affiliation: R & D Group VitaK, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vermeer
authors.affiliation: Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Belgium; R & D Group VitaK, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Staessen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D044383:Black People; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000097:blood*; D044465:White People; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D014812:Vitamin K; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein
keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Glomerular filtration rate; Matrix Gla protein; Population science; Vitamin K