Association between klotho and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis based on the NHANES 2007-2016

Introduction and Objectives: This study aims to explore the association between Klotho and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a condition affecting millions worldwide. Klotho may have a protective effect against NAFLD mechanisms like inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis. The study will use FLI and FIB-4 score to diagnose NAFLD in a large population for investigating the link between Klotho and NAFLD. Materials and Methods: The study aimed to explore the association between Klotho and NAFLD by measuring the a-Klotho protein levels in the participants' blood using ELISA. Patients with underlying chronic liver diseases were excluded. The severity of NAFLD was evaluated using FLI and FIB-4, and logistic regression models were used to analyze the data obtained from NHANES. Subgroup analyses were conducted to study Klotho's effect on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in diverse subpopulations. Results: The study found that low levels of a-Klotho were associated with NAFLD, with ORs ranging from 0.72 to 0.83. However, high levels of a-Klotho were associated with NAFLD-related fibrosis. The Q4 group showed significant results in individuals aged 51 years or younger and in females. Non-Hispanic White ethnicity, education level of high school or above, non-smoking, non-hypertension, and non-diabetic groups showed negative correlations. Conclusions: Our study suggests a potential correlation between a-Klotho levels in the blood and NAFLD in adult patients, especially among younger individuals, females and Non-Hispanic Whites. Elevated a-Klotho levels may have therapeutic benefits in treating NAFLD. Further research is required to validate these findings, but they provide new insights for managing this condition. & COPY; 2023 Fundacion Clinica Medica Sur, A.C. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)