Relationship of Serum Levels of Vitamin K2 and Osteocalcin with Atherosclerotic Coronary Arteries

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum levels of vitamin K2 and osteocalcin with coronary artery plaques in people undergoing angiography. This case-control study enrolled 138 people presenting to Bushehr Heart Center for routine examination. Demographic information of the participants was registered in a standard questionnaire. Before undergoing angiography, 10 ml blood was collected from all the participants and stored at – 80 ˚C until the analysis. After the angiography, those who were found to be normal entered the control group, and those with one or more arteries blocked were placed in the case group. Finally, serum levels of vitamin K2 and osteocalcin were measured in all the samples using ELISA kits. Serum levels of osteocalcin in the case group were significantly higher than those of the control (P=0.019). There was no difference in K2 levels between the two groups (P=0.84). Moreover, no relationship was found between the osteocalcin levels and the number of blocked arteries and the severity of atherosclerosis (P=0.95). By adjusting age and type 2 diabetes in both groups, a difference was observed in the concentration of osteaocalcin and coronary artery atherosclerosis (P=0.034). Our results showed that a significant relationship exists between increased concentration of serum osteocalcin and coronary artery atherosclerosis. However, no such a relationship was observed between the serum levels of K2 and atherosclerotic arteries.