Abstract: 【Abstract】The incidence of arterial calcification is higher in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with chronic kidney disease. Arterial calcification is closely related to the cardiovascular events in these patients. Matrix γ-carboxyglutamate protein (MGP) is a vitamin K dependent protein, which inhibits the progression of arterial calcification through multiple pathways. Studies have confirmed that dephosphorylated and uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP) is a type of inactive MGP, which is related to the risk of death in MHD patients. Vitamin K is an important substrate for the activation of vitamin K dependent proteins (VKDPs), and
determines the level of circulating VKDPs. Vitamin K supplementation for MHD patients can significantly reduce the level of dp-ucMGP. However, prospective studies providing confirmed data that MHD patients with arterial calcification benefited from vitamin K supplementation are yet insufficient.

Key words: Arterial calcification, Vitamin K- dependent proteins, Dephosphorylated- uncarboxylated matrix γ-carboxyglutamate protein (dp-ucMGP), Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, Calcification defense