Plasma Klotho, Adiposity, and Insulin Resistance in Older Adults: Findings From the Inchianti Study
Year: 2017
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Klotho is a recently discovered hormone with demonstrated anti-aging properties in animal studies. In older humans, evidence has linked plasma klotho with longevity. Insulin signaling is associated with longevity in animals and in humans, mediated in part by the accumulation of fat mass common in aging. Whether klotho is part of this longevity pathway is unknown. We hypothesize that plasma klotho is associated with insulin resistance and this association depends on by obesity status. Plasma klotho was measured in 832 participants aged ≥ 55 years in InCHIANTI, a prospective cohort study comprising Italian adults. Insulin resistance was operationalized using the homeostasis model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Body size was categorized using World Health Organization body mass index (BMI) categories (<25 [under- or normal weight; n=303], 25–29.9 [overweight; n=393], ≥30 [obese; n=136] kg/m2). Stratified inverse probability weighted linear regression modeled the association while handling missing data. Mean (SD) klotho concentrations (pg/mL) were 718.9 (434.6) for under/normal weight, 687.8 (237.1) for overweight, and 680.6 (210.6) for obese participants. After adjustment for biomarkers, comorbidities, demographics, and lifestyle; each logarithm higher klotho (pg/mL) was associated with 0.69 higher units of HOMA-IR (95% confidence interval[CI] 0.19–1.20; p-value=0.007) in overweight participants. We found little evidence for association in participants with BMI<25 kg/m2 (beta=0.20; 95%CI -0.20–0.61; p-value=0.32) or obese participants (beta=-0.11; 95%CI -1.16-0.94; p-value=0.84). Plasma klotho was positively associated with insulin resistance in overweight older adults, but not associated in other BMI categories. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship of these paradoxical findings to longevity.
Source: Innovation in Aging
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,977
OpenAlex ID: W2724871913