96 | id == 96
96 | category_id == 9
96 | category_order == 6
96 | category_name == Longevity
96 | category_color == #C47AC0
96 | slug == klotho-longevity
96 | title == Why do Some Researchers Call this the Longevity Gene? (KLOTHO)
96 | meta_description == Discovered in 1997, KLOTHO quickly developed a reputation as a longevity gene. Can lifestyle & diet choices increase it?
96 | summary == <p><strong>Discovered in mice in 1997, KLOTHO quickly developed a reputation as an aging and longevity gene. How does it work, and can lifestyle and diet choices increase it?</strong></p>
96 | overall_score_text == Longevity Score (based on KLOTHO)
96 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/KLOTHO.jpg
96 | author_id == 1
96 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
96 | author_title == BSc, BEd
96 | author_order == 36
96 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
96 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
96 | reviewer == None
96 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
96 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
96 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
96 | publish_date == 2020
96 | publish_date == 2
96 | publish_date == 5
96 | avg_rating == 5.0
96 | tags_id == 172
96 | tags_name == Blood Pressure
96 | tags_id == 152
96 | tags_name == Cholesterol
96 | tags_id == 155
96 | tags_name == Cognitive Decline
96 | tags_id == 256
96 | tags_name == KLOTHO Gene
96 | tags_id == 101
96 | tags_name == Longevity
96 | tags_id == 219
96 | tags_name == Stroke
96 | permissions_favorite == False
96 | permissions_rate == False
96 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Klotho &amp; the Thread of Life</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Klotho was discovered in mice in 1997. In experimental animals, it was observed that a deficiency of klotho, a protein found in cell membranes that seems to interact with insulin, caused the mice to age and die prematurely. It was named for Clotho, one of the three Greek Fates who spins the &ldquo;thread of life&rdquo; and controls the lives of mortals [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30843026"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15677572"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, this discovery immediately made klotho the focus of a great deal of longevity research. By 2002, variations in the human </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KLOTHO</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene had been linked with lifespan in human populations. In 2005, these same variations had been further associated with cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and incidence of stroke [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117395/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15677572"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since then, over a dozen </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KLOTHO</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants have been identified and linked either directly with longevity or indirectly with age-related disease.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Discovered in mice in 1997 and named for one of the Greek Fates, klotho was quickly linked to premature aging and longevity in humans.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">An Antioxidant Mechanism</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like so many other genes implicated in aging, klotho is closely related to the body&rsquo;s antioxidant defense system. High klotho is associated with high levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes, which transform superoxide (a powerful reactive oxygen species) into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen to reduce oxidative stress. This mechanism is believed to protect against all sorts of diseases and conditions [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6323445/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">The More, the Merrier</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As far as we know, higher expression of klotho is better &mdash; that is, there has been no study so far to suggest that klotho becomes detrimental above a certain level. In fact, overexpression of klotho increased the lifespan of experimental mice by nearly a third [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2536606/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">KLOTHO Variants &amp; Human Longevity</span></h2> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">The KL-VS Haplotype</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The best-studied variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KLOTHO</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are part of what&rsquo;s called the KL-VS haplotype, a block of six SNPs that are always inherited together. Two of these SNPs (represented by the V and S of KL-VS) change the structure and sequence of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KLOTHO</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene; these are believed to be responsible for the effects of the haplotype [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117395/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15677572"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The SNPs responsible for KL-VS are rs9536314-G and rs9527025-C, and their effect on klotho is complex. One copy of KL-VS significantly increases circulating klotho protein, and seems to be associated with increased life expectancy. By contrast, two copies of KL-VS decreases klotho and is associated with decreased life expectancy [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117395/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To simplify, one copy of KL-VS seems better than no copies, and no copies seems better than two copies.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">KL-VS is a haplotype of six SNPs, including two that change the structure and sequence of the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KLOTHO</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene. One copy of KL-VS is associated with increased klotho, while two is detrimental.</span></span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">KL-VS and Disease</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The dramatic increase and decrease in klotho associated with KL-VS has also been studied in relation to various diseases. The same relationship between genotype and outcome (i.e. one copy of KL-VS being best) has been found for cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and stroke [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15677572"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A single copy of KL-VS (and the high klotho levels it confers) also appears to protect against retinopathy in people with type 1 diabetes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29247834"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The one exception to the single-copy rule so far has been in a study on cognitive decline in 527 older men. In this study, the TT genotype at rs9536314 (i.e. no copies of KL-VS) was associated with lower rates of dementia than GT or GG. Notably, however, the GG genotype (two copies of KL-VS) was linked to considerably higher rates of dementia than GT [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6184870/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">KL-VS has been linked to an impressive number of health markers and diseases already, including cholesterol, blood pressure, and stroke.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other Variants</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, most commercial DNA testing chips don&rsquo;t include the SNPs responsible for KL-VS. However, you can still get some information about whether you&rsquo;re likely to have high or low klotho from other SNPs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variants that increase or decrease klotho activity have been associated with:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cognitive decline (rs1207568) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5005865/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stroke (rs1207568, rs650439) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16973281/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6339800/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">High blood pressure (rs1207568) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20005218/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Osteoarthritis (rs1207568) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20005218/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Metabolic syndrome (rs1207568) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4754834/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Atherosclerosis (rs3752472, rs650439) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20345435"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20345435"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Non-diabetic kidney disease (rs525014, rs526906, rs571118, rs643780) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2948839/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2948839/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mortality from hemodialysis (rs577912) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2765930/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additional studies are currently underway to investigate whether klotho has an effect on a broad spectrum of other diseases, as well.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your KLOTHO Results for Longevity</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The following SNPs and alleles have been associated with klotho levels, disease, longevity, or all three in existing studies. Klotho is currently the subject of intensive research, and it is likely that other SNPs that affect klotho will come to light. Furthermore, many </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KLOTHO </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants are missing from commercial DNA tests. This is therefore probably an incomplete picture of your </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">KLOTHO</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene, let alone your likely lifespan. Take these results with a grain of salt!</span></p> <p>*4640934079680821*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Summary and Table</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Directly Correlated with Longevity</span></h4> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs9536314</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Part of KL-VS haplotype, one copy associated with increased klotho &amp; lifespan</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not a part of KL-VS haplotype</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 21% of all people have the beneficial heterozygous (KL-VS) genotype</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs9527025</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Part of the KL-VS haplotype, one copy associated with increased klotho &amp; lifespan</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not a part of KL-VS haplotype</span></li> </ul> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indirectly Correlated with Longevity</span></h4> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs7323281</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Not associated with carotid atherosclerosis; presumed increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with carotid atherosclerosis; presumed decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 10% of all people have the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs562020</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with cognitive decline in haplotype with rs398655-C, presumed decreased klotho in old age</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho in old age</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 10% of all people have the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs398655</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with cognitive decline in haplotype with rs562020-A, presumed decreased klotho in old age</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho in old age</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs1207568</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with cognitive decline, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, presumed decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 29% of all people have at least one copy of the &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele, and only 3% have the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs3752472</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with carotid atherosclerosis, presumed decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only 7% of all people around the world have even a single copy of the &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No one on record</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of European ancestry has the &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs526906</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with non-diabetic kidney disease, presumed decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Part of GGC haplotype with rs525014 and rs571118</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 13% of all people have the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype (no chance of GGC haplotype)</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs525014</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with non-diabetic kidney disease, presumed decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Part of GGC haplotype with rs526906 and rs571118</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 22% of all people have the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype (no chance of GGC haplotype)</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs571118</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with non-diabetic kidney disease, presumed decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Part of GGC haplotype with rs526906 and rs525014</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 33% of all people have the &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype (no chance of GGC haplotype)</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs577912</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with mortality from hemodialysis, presumed decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 35% of all people have at least one copy of the &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs643780</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Presumed increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with non-diabetic kidney disease, presumed decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over half (57%) of all people have the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>KLOTHO rs650439</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with stroke and atherosclerosis in people with hypertension, decreased klotho</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 42% of all people have at least one copy of the &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele</span></li> </ul> <p>*3530381265971587*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations to Increase Longevity</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Researchers are currently investigating whether various lifestyle, diet, and supplement choices could increase or decrease klotho (and, by extension, longevity), but this research is broadly in its early phases. As such, we recommend caution; to avoid adverse effects or unexpected interactions, talk to your doctor before making any significant changes to your daily health regimen.</span></p> <p>*9801214207329259*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lifestyle</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a study of 74 middle-aged adults, regular exercise significantly increased klotho levels in the blood. The researchers suggested that physical fitness (as measured by decreased fat mass and increased lean mass) could be the cause of the rise in klotho, rather than the act of exercising itself [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31164040"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, another study found that even short-term aerobic exercise increased klotho in rats [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6524218/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Physical fitness is also heavily correlated with lifespan. A meta-analysis of available data on exercise and longevity found that people who exercise at least 150 minutes per week lived significantly longer than those who did not, and the benefit continued to increase with even more time spent active. The longest-lived people exercised as much as twelve </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">hours</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> per week [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30640736"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">In general, more exercise and better physical fitness is linked with higher klotho and increased life expectancy.</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mental Health</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress and depression have been found to decrease both klotho levels and average life expectancy. Thus, if you are currently in a high-stress situation or suffering from untreated mental illness, we strongly recommend taking any steps you can to resolve them [</span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/tp201581"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590980/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A doctor or psychologist can help you develop strategies to resolve mental health problems. You may also consider yoga, meditation, or other stress-busting hobbies, but these should never be used to replace something your doctor recommends or prescribes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415184/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24501780"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Limit Alcohol</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alcohol consumption was found to decrease klotho levels in 74 adults, suggesting that alcohol intake could reduce lifespan. However, other studies have found that moderate alcohol consumption was associated with increased lifespan; yet others have found that alcohol consumption has a complex relationship with longevity and socioeconomic factors [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30419404"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5939941/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Regardless, most doctors (and researchers) recommend limiting alcohol intake. Talk to your doctor to determine whether you should eliminate alcohol entirely.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Limit Dietary Phosphates</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In mice genetically modified to produce low (or no) klotho, low-phosphate diets increased lifespan and recovered klotho production. By contrast, high-phosphate diets accelerated aging and reduced lifespan in mice without klotho, leading the authors of this study to suggest that phosphate toxicity was the cause of premature aging in these mice [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4399270/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862786/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://oregonstate.edu/instruction/bb317/Phosphates%20and%20aging.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In humans, higher than average serum phosphate levels have been associated with heart disease and mortality from kidney disease. However, phosphorus is an essential nutrient, so balance is key [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3278747/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Adults are recommended to consume 700 mg of phosphorus per day, while adolescents need more (about 1250 mg) to support growth. Almost all foods contain some amount of phosphorus (typically as phosphate), but the highest levels in an American diet come from dairy and baked goods [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Phosphorus-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your doctor may order a </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/high-phosphorus/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">phosphate test</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to check for kidney disease. If you want to safely reduce your intake of phosphate, we recommend consulting a doctor or nutritionist.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Phosphate toxicity has been linked with low klotho and reduced lifespan in animals and with heart disease and kidney disease mortality in humans.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cordyceps Supplements</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A few cell studies have found that extracts of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cordyceps sinensis</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a type of fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, increased klotho expression and prevented premature cell death [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19411745"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30989992"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traditional practitioners use </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cordyceps</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as an anti-aging remedy, but the evidence for such a benefit in modern research is lacking [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3121254/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drug Research</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some researchers are exploring a combination of fluvastatin and valsartan with the potential to prevent age-related disease by increasing klotho. However, these medications are not approved for this purpose; we strongly recommend against taking these drugs without a doctor&rsquo;s prescription [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6514706/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p>
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96 | content_learn_more_3530381265971587_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your KLOTHO gene variants are associated with an average lifespan. Increasing your physical fitness, addressing any mental health concerns, and reducing phosphate and alcohol intake may help. Keep scrolling to learn more.
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rsStatus = rs526906,KL,chr13,33024849,A,C,G,,32,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs9536314,KL,chr13,33054001,T,A,G,,33,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1207568,KL,chr13,33016046,G,A,,,25,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs643780,,chr13,33066938,A,C,G,T,25,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs577912,KL,chr13,33036014,T,G,,,11,12,HET
rsStatus = rs9527025,KL,chr13,33054056,G,C,T,,14,18,HET
rsStatus = rs571118,KL,chr13,33026095,T,A,C,G,39,0,Normal
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rsStatus = rs562020,KL,chr13,33017932,A,G,,,9,13,HET
rsStatus = rs3752472,KL,chr13,33055256,C,T,,,33,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs650439,KL,chr13,33061802,T,A,,,3,33,HET
rsStatus = rs525014,KL,chr13,33025060,A,C,G,T,34,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs7323281,KL,chr13,33053623,A,G,,,17,12,HET
