The effect of menaquinone-7 supplementation on vascular calcification in patients with diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vitamin K occurs in the diet as phylloquinone and menaquinones. Observational studies have shown that both phylloquinone and menaquinone intake might reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the effect of vitamin K on vascular calcification is unknown.

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study was to assess if menaquinone supplementation, compared to placebo, decreases vascular calcification in people with type 2 diabetes and known CVD.

METHODS:

In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned men and women with type 2 diabetes and CVD to 360 µg/d menaquinone-7 (MK-7) or placebo for 6 mo. Femoral arterial calcification at baseline and 6 mo was measured with 18sodium fluoride positron emission tomography (18F-NaF PET) scans as target-to-background ratios (TBRs), a promising technique to detect active calcification. Calcification mass on conventional computed tomography (CT) scan was measured as secondary outcome. Dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (dp-ucMGP) concentrations were measured to assess compliance. Linear regression analyses were performed with either TBR or CT calcification at follow-up as the dependent variable, and treatment and baseline TBR or CT calcification as independent variables.

RESULTS:

We randomly assigned 35 patients to the MK-7 group (33 completed follow-up) and 33 to the placebo group (27 completed follow-up). After the 6-mo intervention, TBR tended to increase in the MK-7 group compared with placebo (0.25; 95% CI: -0.02, 0.51; P = 0.06), although this was not significant. Log-transformed CT calcification mass did not increase in the intervention group compared with placebo (0.50; 95% CI: -0.23, 1.36; P = 0.18). MK-7 supplementation significantly reduced dp-ucMGP compared with placebo (-205.6 pmol/L; 95% CI: -255.8, -155.3 pmol/L). No adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION:

MK-7 supplementation tended to increase active calcification measured with 18F-NaF PET activity compared with placebo, but no effect was found on conventional CT. Additional research investigating the interpretation of 18F-NaF PET activity is necessary. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02839044.

• Authors: S R Zwakenberg, P A de Jong, J W Bartstra, R van Asperen, J Westerink, H de Valk, R H J A Slart, G Luurtsema, J M Wolterink, G J de Borst, J A van Herwaarden, M A van de Ree, L J Schurgers, Y T van der Schouw, J W J Beulens
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 110 Issue 4 Pg. 883-890 (10 01 2019) ISSN: 1938-3207 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31387121 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © American Society for Nutrition 2019.

Chemical References

• Vitamin K 2
• menaquinone 7

Topics

• Aged
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (complications)
• Dietary Supplements
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Vascular Calcification (complications, prevention & control)
• Vitamin K 2 (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)