Enhanced vitamin K expenditure as a major contributor to vitamin K deficiency in COVID-19

Abstract

Objectives: Vitamin K deficiency consistently associates with worse clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients. However, whether this is due to increased expenditure during inflammation or poor vitamin K status prior to infection remained unknown.

Methods: Dp-ucMGP levels of 128 individuals were measured for the post-MONICA study and were compared to SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing results.

Results: Dp-ucMGP levels prior to COVID-19 infection were not significantly different comparing PCR-negative, PCR-positive and not hospitalized, and PCR-positive and hospitalized patients.

Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrate normal vitamin K status prior to infection in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, supporting the theory of increased utilisation during disease.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dp-ucMGP; Elastic fibers; Matrix Gla Protein; Vitamin K.