Undercarboxylated osteocalcin is a biomarker of carotid calcification in patients with essential hypertension.

The development of vascular calcification is an active, highly regulated process with similarities to bone formation. Osteocalcin (OC), a vitamin K-dependent protein expressed by osteoblasts, contains 3 gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues derived from the vitamin K-dependent posttranslational modification of glutamic acid residues. Circulating undercarboxylated OC (ucOC) is increased in vitamin K deficiency and serum ucOC is reported to be a clinical marker of vitamin K status. Vitamin K deficiency is associated with vascular calcification as well as osteoporosis. We evaluated the relationship between ucOC and carotid artery calcification in 92 patients with essential hypertension. Ultrasound of the common carotid artery was performed to identify vascular calcification and subjects were divided into 2 groups: a calcification (+) group and a calcification (-) group. Serum creatinine and ucOC levels were higher in the calcification (+) group than in the calcification (-) group and serum ucOC correlated with serum creatinine. To identify the independent determinant factor for carotid artery calcification, we applied both ucOC and estimated glomerular filtration rate as independent factors in logistic regression analysis. Serum ucOC was an independent determinant of carotid calcification, suggesting that circulating ucOC may be an important biomarker of carotid artery calcification.