Decreases in serum α-Klotho levels in association with levels of regular alcohol drinking and binge drinking among US adults.

Aims: Alcohol consumption is associated with numerous detrimental health outcomes and aging-related disorders. This study aims to investigate the impact of alcohol drinking levels and drinking behavior on serum levels of Klotho protein, an anti-aging biomarker for health and longevity, in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of 4225 adults aged 40-79 years from the 2013-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed using multiple general linear models. Drinking levels were classified as light (consumed ≤ 2 drinks for men and ≤ 1 drink for women in a day), moderate (3-4 for men and 2-3 drinks for women), and heavy drinking (≥ 5 for men and ≥ 4 drinks for women), according to national guidelines.

Results: Significantly decreased serum ɑ-Klotho levels were found in all levels of drinking in a dose-dependent manner, with weighted geometric means of 798.80 (P = .0238), 774.75 (P = .0006), 751.83 (P = .0027), and 744.33 pg/ml (P < .0001) in light, moderate, heavy, and former heavy drinkers, respectively, compared to non-drinkers (827.69 pg/ml). After adjusting for covariates, moderate drinking was associated with a 6.53% (P < .0001) decrease, heavy drinking with an 8.97% (P = .0004) decrease, and former heavy drinking with an 7.26% (P < .0001) decrease in ɑ-Klotho levels. Similarly, binge drinking ≥ 4 days in the past month was associated with a 9.17% (P = .0341) decrease in serum ɑ-Klotho.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates a significantly inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and serum ɑ-Klotho levels in middle-aged and older adults. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the role of reducing Klotho levels in alcohol-induced health and aging disorders.