Acute Effects of Exhaustive Exercise on the Anti-Aging Protein S-Klotho in Young Females and Males with Obesity
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section of Sports Medicine, and Umeå School of Sport Sciences, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
- 2Själevad Health Care Center, Sjukhemsvägen 2 B, 894 30 Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
- 3Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
- 4Department of Medical and Translational Biology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
Abstract
Background: Circulating S-Klotho is increasingly recognized as an anti-aging protein linked to cardiovascular protection and metabolic regulation. Although exercise elevates S-Klotho, the dose–response threshold and metabolic determinants of this response in young adults with obesity, a population at heightened risk for cardiometabolic dysfunction, remain poorly characterized. To examine the acute effects of submaximal and maximal cycling on circulating S-Klotho in young adults with obesity and to identify key metabolic predictors of exercise-induced changes. Methods: Eighteen young (26 ± 3 years, BMI 30 ± 2 kg/m2) males and females completed incremental cycling to exhaustion. Serum S-Klotho was assessed at rest, after submaximal (SubMax), and post-maximal (Max) exercise. Covariates included cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), iDXA body composition, HOMA-IR, and hsCRP. Predictor Screening and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression with fivefold cross-validation were used to identify determinants of exercise-induced S-Klotho responses. Results: A significant acute increase in S-Klotho was observed (Main Effect of Time: F(2,32) = 9.4, p = 0.0006). Post hoc analysis revealed an intensity-dependent threshold, with a significant surge occurring only between submaximal and maximal exertion (p = 0.021; Rest to Max: p = 0.0005). No significant sex differences or interactions were observed (p > 0.05). The PLS model explained 74% of the variance in S-Klotho changes, identifying systemic inflammation (Log10[hsCRP]) and visceral adiposity as the primary predictive factors. Conclusions: Exhaustive exercise acutely increases circulating S-Klotho in young adults with obesity, independent of sex. This response is intensity-dependent and primarily driven by baseline metabolic risk factors. S-Klotho may represent an acute exercise-responsive biomarker linked to metabolic health in at-risk populations. These exploratory findings warrant confirmation in larger and adequately powered studies.
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BibTeX
@article{svensson2026acute,
title = {{Acute Effects of Exhaustive Exercise on the Anti-Aging Protein S-Klotho in Young Females and Males with Obesity}},
author = {Michael Svensson and Lisa Blomqvist and Torbjörn Åkerfeldt and Pär Steneberg and Christer Malm},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15218313},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8313},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Acute Effects of Exhaustive Exercise on the Anti-Aging Protein S-Klotho in Young Females and Males with Obesity
AU - Michael Svensson
AU - Lisa Blomqvist
AU - Torbjörn Åkerfeldt
AU - Pär Steneberg
AU - Christer Malm
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15218313
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8313
AB - Background: Circulating S-Klotho is increasingly recognized as an anti-aging protein linked to cardiovascular protection and metabolic regulation. Although exercise elevates S-Klotho, the dose–response threshold and metabolic determinants of this response in young adults with obesity, a population at heightened risk for cardiometabolic dysfunction, remain poorly characterized. To examine the acute effects of submaximal and maximal cycling on circulating S-Klotho in young adults with obesity and to identify key metabolic predictors of exercise-induced changes. Methods: Eighteen young (26 ± 3 years, BMI 30 ± 2 kg/m2) males and females completed incremental cycling to exhaustion. Serum S-Klotho was assessed at rest, after submaximal (SubMax), and post-maximal (Max) exercise. Covariates included cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), iDXA body composition, HOMA-IR, and hsCRP. Predictor Screening and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression with fivefold cross-validation were used to identify determinants of exercise-induced S-Klotho responses. Results: A significant acute increase in S-Klotho was observed (Main Effect of Time: F(2,32) = 9.4, p = 0.0006). Post hoc analysis revealed an intensity-dependent threshold, with a significant surge occurring only between submaximal and maximal exertion (p = 0.021; Rest to Max: p = 0.0005). No significant sex differences or interactions were observed (p > 0.05). The PLS model explained 74% of the variance in S-Klotho changes, identifying systemic inflammation (Log10[hsCRP]) and visceral adiposity as the primary predictive factors. Conclusions: Exhaustive exercise acutely increases circulating S-Klotho in young adults with obesity, independent of sex. This response is intensity-dependent and primarily driven by baseline metabolic risk factors. S-Klotho may represent an acute exercise-responsive biomarker linked to metabolic health in at-risk populations. These exploratory findings warrant confirmation in larger and adequately powered studies.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -