Study of the association of DHEAS, testosterone and cortisol with S-Klotho plasma levels in healthy sedentary middle-aged adults

Background: α-Klotho is a recently discovered gene that accelerates ageing when disrupted and extends lifespan when overexpressed. The age-related decline in DHEAS and testosterone secretion and the increase in cortisol are associated with a rise of frailty and mortality.

Objective: To investigate the association of DHEAS, cortisol and testosterone plasma levels with S-Klotho plasma levels in healthy sedentary middle-aged adults.

Methods: 73 (39 women) healthy middle-aged sedentary adults (45-65 years old) were recruited for the present study. The blood samples were collected in the morning after fasting for 12 h.

Results: DHEAS was positively associated with S-Klotho in men (β = 0.521, R² = 0.248, P = 0.002), whereas no association was observed in women (P ≥ 0.201). Testosterone was positively associated with S-Klotho in both men and women (β = 0.360, R² = 0.099, P = 0.047; β = 0.431, R² = 0.161, P = 0.010, respectively). No association was found between cortisol and S-Klotho neither in men nor in women (all P ≥ 0.141). The association between DHEAS and testosterone with S-Klotho in men disappeared after adjusting by age (all P ≥ 0.151). Nevertheless, the association between testosterone (β = 0.397, R² = 0.423, P = 0.011) and S-Klotho in women remained after adjusting by age.

Conclusions: DHEAS and testosterone were positively associated with S-Klotho in healthy sedentary middle-aged men while only testosterone was positively associated in women.