Klotho: The “Anti-Aging” Proteohormone

Klotho: The “Anti-Aging” Proteohormone and Its Role in Healthy Aging

When we think about healthy aging, we often focus on what we can see and feel: energy levels, mobility, memory, metabolism, and how our bodies change over time. But some of the most interesting aspects of aging are happening at a much deeper level.

One of those is Klotho, a protein that has gained attention in longevity and aging research because of its potential role in regulating biological processes associated with aging.

 

What Is Klotho?

Klotho is a naturally occurring protein produced primarily in the kidneys, with expression in other areas of the body as well. Researchers have been studying Klotho because of its relationship with aging, cognitive function, kidney health, cardiovascular health, inflammation, and other biological processes.

For Dr. Goodbinder, understanding Klotho is part of looking beyond symptoms and considering what is happening throughout the body.

 

Dr. Goodbinder’s Insights

“Klotho is a miraculous anti-aging proteohormone. It’s made from your kidneys, some in your brain, some in your skeletal muscle. If we want to stay young for a very long time, we have to increase our Klotho levels.

You can do vitamin D3K2. You can take curcuminoid or resveratrol, strong antioxidants. Sulforaphane, which comes from your dark leafy green vegetables. You can exercise at least 150 minutes a week and do consistent cardiovascular activity.

You need to try to sleep well. Eat well with high fiber to make sure you’re getting things like lactobacillus and bifidobacter and less bad bacteria. Klotho is a miraculous anti-aging proteohormone. We need to make more of it.”

The Gut-Klotho Connection

Dr. Goodbinder also points to the gut microbiome as an important part of the conversation.

The bacteria living in the gut help determine how certain nutrients and amino acids are metabolized. In his discussion of Klotho, Dr. Goodbinder specifically highlights beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and their relationship with the way the body processes tryptophan.

This is another reason why supporting a healthy gut microbiome through nutrition can be an important component of a broader healthy-aging strategy.

 

Lifestyle Habits That May Support Healthy Aging

There isn’t one habit, supplement, or food that determines how someone ages. Instead, longevity is influenced by numerous interconnected factors.

Some of the lifestyle habits Dr. Goodbinder highlights include getting at least 150 minutes of exercise per week, incorporating consistent cardiovascular activity, prioritizing quality sleep, eating a high-fiber diet, consuming nutrient-dense foods such as dark leafy green vegetables, and supporting a diverse, healthy gut microbiome.

Certain nutrients and compounds, including vitamin D3 and K2, curcuminoids, resveratrol, and sulforaphane, may also be part of the conversation depending on an individual’s needs.

Before adding new supplements to your routine, it’s important to consider your individual health history, medications, nutritional needs, and lab results with a qualified healthcare professional.

 

Healthy Aging Is About the Bigger Picture

Klotho is an intriguing area of longevity research, but healthy aging is rarely about optimizing one individual marker.

Your sleep, nutrition, movement, gut health, metabolic health, stress, environment, genetics, and other factors all interact. Understanding those connections can provide a much clearer picture of what your body actually needs.

That is where a more personalized approach to health becomes valuable.

 

The Takeaway

Klotho provides another example of just how interconnected the human body is. While research continues to explore its relationship with aging and longevity, the fundamentals remain important: move consistently, prioritize sleep, eat a nutrient-dense and fiber-rich diet, and pay attention to your overall health rather than waiting for individual symptoms to appear.

At Epigenetics Healing Center, the goal is to look deeper, understand what may be driving changes in your health, and create an individualized approach designed around you.

Because changing your health can change your life.