Exercise training increases the S-Klotho plasma levels in sedentary middle-aged adults: A randomised controlled trial. The FIT-AGEING study

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different training modalities on the soluble Klotho (S-Klotho) plasma levels in sedentary middle-aged adults. A total of 74 middle-aged adults (53.4 ± 5.0 years old; 52.7% women) were enrolled in the FIT-AGEING study. We conducted a 12-week randomised controlled trial. The participants were randomly assigned to 4 different groups: (i) a control group (no exercise), (ii) a physical activity recommendation from the World Health Organization group (PAR), (iii) a high intensity interval training group (HIIT), and (iv) a high intensity interval training group adding whole-body electromyostimulation training group (HIIT-EMS). S-Klotho plasma levels, anthropometric measurements, and body composition variables were measured before and after the intervention programme. All exercise training modalities induced an increase in the S-Klotho plasma levels (all P ≤ 0.019) without statistical differences between them (all P ≥ 0.696). We found a positive association between changes in lean mass index and changes in the S-Klotho plasma levels, whereas a negative association was reported between changes in fat mass outcomes and changes in the S-Klotho plasma levels after our intervention study. In conclusion, our results suggest that the link between exercise training and the increase in S-Klotho plasma levels could be mediated by a decrease of fat mass and an increase of lean mass.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging
• longevity
• HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
• WB-EMS (Whole-Body Electromyostimulation)
• body composition

Acknowledgments

The study is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU14/04172 and FPU15/03960), and by the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Scientific Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES). We acknowledge Ms. Carmen Sainz-Quinn for their help with the English text. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article. This study is part of a Ph.D. Thesis conducted in the Biomedicine Doctoral Studies of the University of Granada, Spain.

Author contributions

FAG, ADO, AGS, JRR, and MCG conceived and designed the study; FAG, ADO, and LJF designed and performed the tests and the intervention training; AEO and TdH designed and performed the biochemical analysis; FAG and JRR performed the statistical analysis; FAG drafted, and JRR and MCG revised the manuscript. All author read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU14/04172 and FPU15/03960), by the University of Granada Plan Propio de Investigación 2016 (Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health [UCEES]), by the Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y Universidades, by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR and by Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa RETIC grant Red SAMID RD16/002.