Biomarkers · Aging & Senescence

Alpha-Klotho

Both low and high values go with higher risk of death. Not measured in our NHANES panel. The curve is drawn from the published study (source below).

Alpha-Klotho and risk of death

Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher

Risk of death relative to the curve's reference value, drawn from the published study (source below).

Published risk of death1.21×highest quintile vs intermediate alpha-klotho quintiles (lowest quintile vs intermediate… (95% CI 1.01–1.45) · NHANES 2007-2016 US adults, followed through 31 Dec 2019

Alpha-Klotho by age and sex

Each bar runs from the 5th to the 95th percentile, the darker part from the 25th to the 75th, and the tick is the median. Not a reference range or a target.

The percentiles as a table

Each row is one sex and age band: the values below which 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 95% of people fall (pg/mL), from the survey named in the row. Not a reference range or a target.
Sex	Age	5th	25th	Median	75th	95th	n	Cycle / source
All	40-59	464	642	769	970	1,350	1,400	NHANES 2015-2016
All	60-79	441	607	725	930	1,252	1,234	NHANES 2015-2016
All	all	454	624	750	957	1,322	2,634	NHANES 2015-2016
Men	40-59	452	636	755	942	1,246	642	NHANES 2015-2016
Men	60-79	453	597	704	897	1,239	623	NHANES 2015-2016
Men	all	452	622	740	930	1,243	1,265	NHANES 2015-2016
Women	40-59	475	645	788	988	1,489	758	NHANES 2015-2016
Women	60-79	440	613	736	973	1,255	611	NHANES 2015-2016
Women	all	456	625	761	981	1,400	1,369	NHANES 2015-2016

What studies found when this marker was changed

They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.

Measured changes in Alpha-Klotho, study by study

2 effects with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Intervention	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
pharmacologic	Oral losartan 50 mg daily for 4 weeks (randomized crossover vs quinapril 20 mg) in type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria	Circulating alpha-klotho rose by an average of 23% (from 542 to 668 pg/ml, p=0.001) on losartan over 4 weeks; quinapril had no significant effect; 33 subjects	RCT	Lim SC, Liu JJ, Subramaniam T, Sum CF. J Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Syst…

Things that worsen it

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Condition or exposure	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
pharmacologic	Dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily for 24 weeks added to standard care in patients with CKD on dialysis	Serum Klotho changed by -29.1 pg/mL (median) over 24 weeks with dapagliflozin vs +19.1 pg/mL with standard care	RCT	Pelepenko LE, Barreto J, Martins MP, et al. Effects of Dapagliflozin on the…

What else moves this marker

They describe those study groups, not an individual, and an association is not a cause.

Diseases and conditions

Each row is one study: what it compared and the change it reported in this marker.
What	Effect on the marker	Comparison · population	Source
↓ Diabetic retinopathy · diabetic patients with DR vs diabetic patients without DR	SMD -0.63 (95% CI -1.22 to -0.04)	DR vs non-DR patients with diabetes · 15 studies of patients with diabetes, with vs without diabetic retinopathy	meta analysis · PMID 39257905

Sources

Risk curve: Wei K 2025 (PMID 40392566): all-cause HR 1.21 (1.008-1.452) highest quintile vs intermediate alpha-klotho quintiles (lowest quintile vs intermediate: HR 1.367, 1.125-1.661). Scaled to US values (NHANES).
Wei K, Zhang Q, Chen C, et al. Higher circulating alpha-klotho levels increase all-cause mortality through mediation effects of liver fibrosis: a second analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. 2025;80(7):glaf109.

Map Alpha-Klotho against another biomarker.

Map Alpha-Klotho against another marker