Matrix Gla protein (MGP), a natural inhibitor of calcification, strongly correlates with the extent of coronary calcification. Vitamin K is the essential cofactor for the activation of MGP. The nonphosphorylated-uncarboxylated isoform of MGP (dp-ucMGP) reflects the status of this vitamin. We investigated whether there is an association between dp-ucMGP and stiffness of elastic and muscular-type large arteries in a random sample from the general population. In a cross-sectional design, we analyzed 1087 subjects from the Czech post-MONICA study. Aortic and femoro-popliteal pulse wave velocities (PWVs) were measured using a Sphygmocor device. Dp-ucMGP concentrations were assessed in freshly frozen samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods using the InaKtif MGP iSYS pre-commercial kit developed by IDS and VitaK. Aortic PWV significantly (P<0.0001) increased across the dp-ucMGP quartiles. After adjustment for all potential confounders, aortic PWV independently correlated with dp-ucMGP (with beta coefficient (s.d.) 11.61 (5.38) and P-value=0.031). In a categorized manner, subjects in the top quartile of dp-ucMGP (⩾ 671 pmol l(-1)) had a higher risk of elevated aortic PWV, with corresponding adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.73 (1.17-2.5). In contrast, no relation between dp-ucMGP and femoro-popliteal PWV was found. In conclusion, increased dp-ucMGP, which is a circulating biomarker of vitamin K status and vascular calcification, is independently associated with aortic stiffness, but not with stiffness of distal muscular-type arteries.

• MeSH
• Pulse Wave Analysis MeSH
• Biomarkers blood   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay MeSH
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins blood   MeSH
• Phosphorylation MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Linear Models MeSH
• Logistic Models MeSH
• Matrix Gla Protein MeSH
• Multivariate Analysis MeSH
• Aortic Diseases blood   diagnosis   physiopathology   MeSH
• Odds Ratio MeSH
• Peripheral Arterial Disease blood   diagnosis   physiopathology   MeSH
• Calcium-Binding Proteins blood   MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Vascular Stiffness * MeSH
• Up-Regulation MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biomarkers MeSH
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins MeSH
• Calcium-Binding Proteins MeSH