Abstract
Introduction Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) is an inhibitor of lung tissue calcification. Plasma levels of dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP) is a biomarker of vitamin K status. The present study assessed whether lower vitamin K status (reflected by higher dp-ucMGP) was associated with lung function and lung disease/symptoms.
Methods A general population sample of 4,092 individuals, aged 24 to 77 years, underwent a health examination including questionnaires, spirometry, and measurements of plasma dp-ucMGP. Associations of dp-ucMGP with lung function and self-reported disease/symptoms were estimated using regression models adjusted for age, sex, and height. Associations were expressed as beta-estimates or odds ratios (ORs) per doubling in dp-ucMGP.
Results Lower vitamin K status (higher dp-ucMGP) was associated with lower forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (98 mL; 95% CI: 54 to 141 mL) and lower forced vital capacity (FVC) (136 mL; 95% CI: 85 to 187 mL). Dp-ucMGP was not associated with the FEV1/FVC-ratio (0.0 percentage points higher than the expected value; 95% CI: −1.0 to 1.0). Furthermore, lower vitamin K status was associated with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) (OR 2.24; 95% CI: 1.53 to 3.27), wheezing (OR 1.81; 95% CI: 1.44 to 2.28), and asthma (OR 1.44; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.83).
Conclusion Lower vitamin K status was associated with lower ventilatory capacity (lower FEV1 and FVC), and with higher risk of self-reported asthma, COPD, and wheezing. Vitamin K status was not associated with airflow obstruction (FEV1/FVC-ratio).
Footnotes
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Conflict of interest: FBK, AL, and SMT have received an unrestricted grant and investigational products from Kappa Bioscience A/S for an intervention trial (The InterVitaminK Trial; clinicatrials.gov identifier NCT05259046) using vitamin K supplements as the active intervention.
Conflict of interest: The other authors declare no other conflicts of interest.
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- Received April 2, 2023.
- Accepted June 28, 2023.
- Copyright ©The authors 2023
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