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Published on: May 31, 2016
High-Dose Menaquinone-7 Supplementation Reduces Cardiovascular Calcification in a Murine Model of Extraosseous
Daniel Scheiber1, Verena Veulemans2, Patrick Horn3
1Division of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Vascular Medicine, Medical Faculty, University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf 40225, Germany. daniel.scheiber@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
Insights
High-dose menaquinone-7 (MK-7) supplementation effectively inhibits cardiovascular calcification in a chronic kidney disease model. This vitamin K derivative may protect against vascular damage by influencing matrix Gla-protein (MGP) expression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Nephrology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular calcification is a significant health issue, particularly in aging individuals and those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus.
- Vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla-protein (MGP) plays a crucial role in preventing vascular calcification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of high-dose menaquinone-7 (MK-7) supplementation on extraosseous calcification in a rat model of CKD.
Main Methods:
- CKD was induced in rats via 5/6 nephrectomy and a high-phosphate diet.
- Animals received either high or low doses of MK-7 for 12 weeks.
- Assessed vital parameters, serum chemistry, creatinine clearance, cardiac function, and calcification levels.
Main Results:
- CKD significantly increased aortic and myocardial calcification and alkaline phosphatase levels.
- MK-7 supplementation inhibited cardiovascular calcification and reduced aortic alkaline phosphatase.
- MK-7 increased aortic MGP mRNA expression but did not alter CKD-induced hypertension or cardiac hypertrophy.
Conclusions:
- High-dose MK-7 supplementation demonstrates a protective effect against cardiovascular calcification in a CKD model.
- The mechanism may involve the inhibition of secondary mineralization and increased MGP expression.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular calcification is prevalent in the aging population and in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus, giving rise to substantial morbidity and mortality. Vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla-protein (MGP) is an important inhibitor of calcification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of high-dose menaquinone-7 (MK-7) supplementation (100 µg/g diet) on the development of extraosseous calcification in a murine model. Calcification was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy combined with high phosphate diet in rats. Sham operated animals served as controls. Animals received high or low MK-7 diets for 12 weeks. We assessed vital parameters, serum chemistry, creatinine clearance, and cardiac function. CKD provoked increased aortic (1.3 fold; p < 0.05) and myocardial (2.4 fold; p < 0.05) calcification in line with increased alkaline phosphatase levels (2.2 fold; p < 0.01). MK-7 supplementation inhibited cardiovascular calcification and decreased aortic alkaline phosphatase tissue concentrations. Furthermore, MK-7 supplementation increased aortic MGP messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression (10-fold; p < 0.05). CKD-induced arterial hypertension with secondary myocardial hypertrophy and increased elastic fiber breaking points in the arterial tunica media did not change with MK-7 supplementation. Our results show that high-dose MK-7 supplementation inhibits the development of cardiovascular calcification. The protective effect of MK-7 may be related to the inhibition of secondary mineralization of damaged vascular structures.
