Vitamin K metabolism
The current understanding of the catabolism, or metabolic breakdown, of vitamin K is limited. Recent research suggests that a specific catabolite of this vitamin has potent anti-inflammatory activity and regulates bone loss in a mouse model of post-menopausal osteoporosis. However, there is little information on the metabolic regulation of this catabolite. The aims of these experiments are to describe the metabolic process controlling vitamin K breakdown and inter-organ regulation of the catabolites.
The proposed pilot study will be the first time that the whole body metabolic pathway for the generation and regulation of vitamin K catabolites will be investigated. The confirmation of a prominent role for the liver and the possibility that the kidney is an important second regulatory organ for the generation of the active anti-inflammatory catabolite would raise the fundamental question of adequate vitamin K intake in people with decreasing kidney function.
The animals will not experience pain as they will be in deep surgical anaesthesia during the whole procedure and they are euthanized while still in anaesthesia. It would be unethical to perform such a study in humans, and currently there are no available in vitro methods or other alternative approaches to address the research question. The study involves the use of max. 22 domestic pigs. The pilot have been planned and design in other to keep the animal numbers as low as possible in order to have valid results.
The proposed pilot study will be the first time that the whole body metabolic pathway for the generation and regulation of vitamin K catabolites will be investigated. The confirmation of a prominent role for the liver and the possibility that the kidney is an important second regulatory organ for the generation of the active anti-inflammatory catabolite would raise the fundamental question of adequate vitamin K intake in people with decreasing kidney function.
The animals will not experience pain as they will be in deep surgical anaesthesia during the whole procedure and they are euthanized while still in anaesthesia. It would be unethical to perform such a study in humans, and currently there are no available in vitro methods or other alternative approaches to address the research question. The study involves the use of max. 22 domestic pigs. The pilot have been planned and design in other to keep the animal numbers as low as possible in order to have valid results.