Daily intake and serum concentration of menaquinone-4 (MK-4) in haemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVES: Decreased concentration of menaquinone-4 (MK-4) seems to be an important risk factor of vascular calcification in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Optimal dietary intake, as well as serum MK-4 reference range, in HD has not been determined, yet. The aim of the present study was to assess daily vitamin K1 and MK-4 intakes and their relation to serum MK-4 concentration in HD patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Daily vitamin K1 and MK-4, micro- and macronutrients and energy intakes were assessed using 3-day food diary completed by patients and serum MK-4 concentration was measured by HPLC [limit of quantification (LOQ): 0.055 ng/mL] in 85 HD patients (51 males) and 22 apparently healthy subjects. RESULTS: Daily MK-4 intake was significantly lower (by 29%) among HD, while K1 consumption was similar in both groups. Daily MK-4 intake was associated with fat and protein consumption in HD (r=0.43, p<0.001 and r=0.33, p=0.004, respectively). In HD serum MK-4 concentration was more frequently below LOQ (in 41% HD and 5% controls, p<0.001) and in those HD with quantifiable values was lower than in the controls (by 42%). The correlations between MK-4 concentrations and both MK-4 and K1 daily intakes were weaker in HD (r=0.38 and r=0.30 respectively) than in the control group (r=0.47 and r=0.45, respectively). In multiple regression analysis the variability of serum MK-4 concentrations in HD patients was explained by its daily intake. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased serum MK-4 concentration in HD patients is caused by lower dietary MK-4 intake, mainly due to diminished meat consumption, and in addition, probably reduced K1 conversion.

[Application of PCA (Principal Components Analysis) for the estimation of smoking effect on the occurrence of trace elements in women's gallstones]. / Zastosowanie metody analizy czynników glównych do oceny wplywu nalogu palenia tytoniu na wystepowanie pierwiastków w kamieniach zólciowych kobiet.

The PCA (Principal Components Analysis) was used to estimation of the role of smoking in the changes of elements contents in gallstones. The concentration of given elements were determined by ICP-AES method. It was stated that smoking regardless of sex, influence on the occurrence of elements in hydroxyapatites of gallstones, in particular it concerns changes of As, Pb, Zn, Se, Ti contents. PCA method let to describe the role of selected elements in entire chemical composition of gallstones coming from smoking women.