Cigarette Smoking is Associated with Decreased Bone Gla-protein (BGP) Levels in Hemodialysis Patients

Title:Cigarette Smoking is Associated with Decreased Bone Gla-protein (BGP) Levels in Hemodialysis Patients

Volume: 16 Issue: 6

Author(s): Maria Fusaro*, Maurizio Gallieni, Andrea Aghi, Giorgio Iervasi, Maria A. Rizzo, Andrea Stucchi, Marianna Noale, Giovanni Tripepi, Thomas Nickolas, Nicola Veronese, Fabrizio Fabris, Sandro Giannini, Lorenzo Calo, Antonio Piccoli, Maria C. Mereu, Laura Cosmai, Alberto Ferraro, Fiorenza Magonara, Michela Spinello, Stefania Sella and Mario Plebani

Affiliation:

• National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), Pisa Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, PI,Italy

Keywords: BGP, osteocalcin, bone, smoke, haemodialysis, vascular calcification, vertebral fractures.

Abstract: Background: Bone Gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla)-protein (BGP or osteocalcin) is a vitamin K-dependent protein involved in the regulation of bone mineralization. Smoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis.

Methods: We carried out a secondary analysis of the Vitamin K Italian (VIKI) study to investigate the association between cigarette smoking and BGP levels in patients with end stage renal disease. Data were collected in 370 haemodialysis patients, 37% (136) smokers (or ex-smokers) and 63% (234) nonsmokers. Vascular calcifications and vertebral fractures (quantitative morphometry) were identified on spine radiographs.

Results: Smokers had significantly lower BGP levels (152 vs. 204 µg/L, p=0.003). Smokers had lower plasma phosphate levels (4.2 vs. 4.7 mg/dl, p<0.01). Lower BGP levels were associated with aortic calcification (p<0.001), iliac calcification (p=0.042) and vertebral fractures (p=0.023). In addition, the regression model showed that smoking is associated with a significant reduction of total BGP levels by about 18% (p=0.01).

Conclusion: This is the first clinical study in a haemodialysis population, which identifies cigarette smoking as a potential factor that can lower BGP levels, a protective agent in bone and vascular health.

Cite this article as:

Fusaro Maria*, Gallieni Maurizio , Aghi Andrea , Iervasi Giorgio , Rizzo A. Maria , Stucchi Andrea , Noale Marianna , Tripepi Giovanni , Nickolas Thomas , Veronese Nicola , Fabris Fabrizio , Giannini Sandro , Calo Lorenzo , Piccoli Antonio , Mereu C. Maria , Cosmai Laura , Ferraro Alberto , Magonara Fiorenza , Spinello Michela , Sella Stefania and Plebani Mario , Cigarette Smoking is Associated with Decreased Bone Gla-protein (BGP) Levels in Hemodialysis Patients, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2018; 16 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161115666170919182421