Vitamin K is involved in the production of Bone and Matrix Gla Proteins (BGP and MGP, respectively), regulating bone and vascular health. We carried out a pilot study to evaluate vitamin K intake in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
We measured vitamin K1 intake (7-day food record) in 91 italian hemodialysis patients (55 M, 36 F) compared to intake in 85 healthy adults (55 M, 30 F).
HD patients had a median (Q1,Q3) age of 71 (52,76), median dialytic age of 93 months, mean BMI of 25.3±5.2 Kg/m2. Control group median (Q1,Q3) age was 69 (55,75) years. HD patients had a significantly lower intake of vitamin K1 compared to controls (see Table 1). We also evaluated and compared between HD patients and controls the intake of other fat soluble vitamins and of nutrients closely associated with bone and mineral disorders in CKD patients (see table). All were decreased in HD patients.
This Vitamin K intake study is the first carried out on Italian diet. We found a decreased intake of Vitamin K1 in HD patients. This finding supports the hypothesis of supplementing vitamin K for the prevention of vascular calcifications and bone disorders in HD patients. Benefits of vitamin K supplementation should be proved by a randomized trial.
Table 1: Dietary intake of macronutrients, minerals and vitamins in haemodialysis patients and in controls.
