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  • Original Article
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Genetic and non-genetic correlates of vitamins K and D

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 458–464 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the genetic and nongenetic correlates of circulating measures of vitamins K and D status in a community-based sample of men and women.

Subjects/Methods:

A cross-sectional study of 1762 participants of the Framingham Offspring Study (919 women; mean age 59 years). Vitamin K status was measured as plasma phylloquinone and serum percent undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), and vitamin D was measured using plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Associations between vitamin K status and vitamin D status with biologically plausible nongenetic factors were assessed using stepwise regression. Heritability and linkage were determined using Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines (SOLAR).

Results:

Nongenetic factors accounted for 20.1 and 12.3% of the variability in plasma phylloquinone in men and women respectively, with triglycerides and phylloquinone intake being the primary correlates. In men 12.2% and in women 14.6% of the variability in %ucOC was explained by nongenetic factors in our models. Heritability estimates for these vitamin K status biomarkers were nonsignificant. Season, vitamin D intake, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and waist circumference explained 24.7% (men) and 24.2% (women) of the variability in plasma 25(OH)D. Of the three vitamins examined, only 25(OH)D was significantly heritable (heritability estimate=28.8%, P<0.01), but linkage analysis of 25(OH)D did not achieve genome-wide significance.

Conclusions:

Variability in biomarkers of vitamin K status was attributed to nongenetic factors, whereas plasma 25(OH)D was found to be significantly heritable. Further studies are warranted to investigate genetic loci influencing vitamin D status.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Framingham Study participants and staff. We also thank James Peterson for his technical contribution. This study was based upon work supported by federal funds from the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service under Cooperative Agreement Nos. 58-1950-001 and 58-1950-4-401, National Institute of Aging (AG14759, AG028321), American Heart Association (0515605T) and by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (HL58090, HL076784, 2K24HL04334, T32-HL69772-01A1), including the Framingham Heart Study (N01-HC-38038, HC-25195). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the US Department of Agriculture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    M K Shea, P F Jacques, J M Ordovas, B Dawson-Hughes & S L Booth

  2. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA

    E J Benjamin, J M Massaro, R B D'Agostino Sr, C J O'Donnell & R S Vasan

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    E J Benjamin

  4. Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Whittaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    E J Benjamin & R S Vasan

  5. Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    J Dupuis, J M Massaro & R B D'Agostino Sr

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  1. M K Shea
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  2. E J Benjamin
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  3. J Dupuis
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  4. J M Massaro
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  5. P F Jacques
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  7. J M Ordovas
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  8. C J O'Donnell
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  9. B Dawson-Hughes
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  10. R S Vasan
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  11. S L Booth
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Correspondence to S L Booth.

Additional information

Contributors: MKS designed and performed the statistical analyses and drafted the manuscript. SLB, EJB, JD and PFJ contributed to the design of the analyses, the interpretation of the data and writing of the manuscript. JMM and RBD contributed to design of the analyses and interpretation of the data. BD-H, JMO, RSV and CJO contributed to interpretation of the data and writing of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the final manuscript.

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Shea, M., Benjamin, E., Dupuis, J. et al. Genetic and non-genetic correlates of vitamins K and D. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 458–464 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602959

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