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Nutrition in acute and chronic diseases

The impact of vitamin K2 and native vitamin D supplementation on vascular calcification in pediatric patients on regular hemodialysis. A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background and aim

Vascular calcification is one of the most prevalent disorders in pediatric hemodialysis patients that eventually lead to cardiovascular morbidity. Vitamin K2 was investigated in adults in previous studies and showed favorable effects on calcification markers. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin K2 and cholecalciferol on the calcification regulators in pediatric patients.

Methods

A prospective, randomized and controlled trial was conducted on sixty hemodialysis pediatric patients who were divided to four groups; Group 1: administered 100 µg of vitamin K2 (MK-7); Group 2: administered 10 µg of native vitamin D; Group 3: administered 100 µg of vitamin K2 (MK-7) in addition 10 µg of native vitamin D, and Group 4: administered the standard therapy only. The duration of supplementation was 4 months. In addition to a group of healthy normal control of age and sex-matched.

Results

At the end of the study period, serum levels of FGF23, dp-uc-MGP, and uc-OC were measured. It was found that serum levels of dp-uc-MGP, uc-OC, and FGF23 were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the hemodialysis patients as compared to the healthy normal control. After 4 months, group 3 revealed the most significant decrease in dp-uc-MGP, uc-OC as compared to the other groups. However, there was no change in FGF23.

Conclusion

Vitamin K2 and native vitamin D showed a beneficial effect on calcification regulators in pediatric hemodialysis patients.

Trial registration

clinical trial.gov (NCT04145492).

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Fig. 1: Consort flow chart representing the enrollment, allocation and analysis of the four groups throughout the study.

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Funding

No source of funding from National Institute of Health (NIH); Welcome Trust: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) & others.

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Contributions

R.E.B. and M.S.E.-F. designed the study, M.S.E.-F. performed the study, R.E.B. analysed the data and wrote the draft version of the paper. Finally, R.E.B. and M.S.E.-F. edited and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Radwa El Borolossy.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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El Borolossy, R., El-Farsy, M.S. The impact of vitamin K2 and native vitamin D supplementation on vascular calcification in pediatric patients on regular hemodialysis. A randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 848–854 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-021-01050-w

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