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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212416
Title: Vitamin K and Vitamin D Status: Associations with Inflammatory Markers in the Framingham Offspring Study

Author
item SHEA, KYLA - TUFTS/HNRCA
item Booth, Sarah
item KEANEY, JOHN - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item MASSARO, JOSEPH - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item D'AGOSTINO, RALPH - BOSTON UNIVERSITY
item O'DONNELL, CHRISTOPHER - NHLIB
item VASAN, RAMACHANDRAN - NHLIB
item KATHRESAN, SEKAR - BOSTON UNIVERSTIY
item BENJAMIN, EMELIA - BOSTON UNIV/NHLIB
item Dawson-Hughes, Bess

Submitted to: American Journal of Epidemiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2007
Publication Date: 2/1/2008
Citation: Shea, K.M., Booth, S.L., Keaney, J.F., Massaro, J., D'Agostino, R.B., O'Donnell, C.J., Vasan, R.S., Kathresan, S., Benjamin, E.J., Dawson-Hughes, B. 2008. Vitamin K and Vitamin D Status: Associations with Inflammatory Markers in the Framingham Offspring Study. American Journal of Epidemiology. 167:313-320.

Interpretive Summary: Limited data from cell studies suggest that vitamins K and D, two fat-soluble nutrients, can modulate inflammation. To examine the relationship between vitamins K and D and inflammation in humans, we assessed the associations between blood measures of vitamin K and D status and a panel of inflammatory measures in 1381 men and women with an average age of 59 years, who were participating in the Framingham Offspring Study. Vitamin K status, as measured by blood concentration of vitamin K, was inversely associated with overall inflammation. Vitamin D status, as measured by the major metabolite in circulation, was not associated with overall inflammation, but was inversely associated with urinary isoprostanes, a measure of oxidative stress. In summary, poor vitamin K status, but not vitamin D status, is associated with greater inflammation in men and women.

Technical Abstract: In vitro data suggest protective roles for vitamins K and D in inflammation. To examine associations between vitamins K and D and inflammation in vivo, we used multiple linear regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, triglyceride concentrations, use of aspirin, lipid lowering and hormone replacement medications, season, and menopausal status. Participants were from the Framingham Offspring Study (n=1381; mean age 59 years; 52% women). Vitamin K status, measured by plasma phylloquinone and phylloquinone intake, was inversely associated with circulating inflammatory markers as a group, and with several individual inflammatory biomarkers (p< 0.01). Percent undercarboxylated osteocalcin, a functional measure of vitamin K status, was not associated with overall inflammation, but was associated with C-reactive protein (p<0.01). Although plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D was inversely associated with urinary isoprostanes, an oxidative stress indicator (p<0.01), overall associations between vitamin D status and inflammation were inconsistent. The observation that high vitamin K status was associated with lower concentrations of inflammatory markers suggests that a protective role for vitamin K in inflammation merits further investigation.